Femtosecond-kiloampere electron bunches in laser-plasma accelerators

Summary form only given. Acceleration of particles driven by the interaction of a relativistic laser intensity, having femtosecond duration, with an under-dense plasma can produce plasma wave, in the form of bubble, delivering several hundred gigavolts per meter accelerating electric fields [1] and deliver high quality femtosecond-scale electron beams with relatively narrow energy spread [2] and low emittance [3]. We will discuss how the energy spread for such relatively small electron bunch is affected by beam loading in the bubble regime. Electrons that are accelerated in the wakefield also oscillate transversely and emit very bright x-rays and gamma-rays due to a harmonically resonant betatron oscillation [4]. This synchrotron-like radiation occurs in a “wiggler” formed by the electrostatic forces of the plasma wave. These results will have a strong impact on emerging applications such as short-pulse and short-wavelength radiation sources.