title: Divergence-free transport of laser-produced fast electrons along a meter-long wire target.
abstract: We demonstrate that, from a 10-μm metal wire irradiated by a 10(19)  W/cm2 laser pulse, fast electrons form a nearly perfect circular beam around the wire and propagate along it. The total charge and diameter of the electron beam are maintained over a propagation distance of 1 m. Moreover, the electron beam can be guided along a slightly bent wire. Numerical simulations suggest that a relatively weak steady electric field, which does not decay for several nanoseconds, is generated around the wire and plays a key role in the long-distance guidance.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan and Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-7501, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan and Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-7501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokita
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan and Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-7501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan and Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-7501, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashida
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan and Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-7501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakabe