Title :
First Observation of Laser-Driven Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons in a Semi-Infinite Vacuum Space
Author :
Plettner, T. ; Byer, R.L. ; Smith, T.I. ; Colby, E. ; Cowan, B. ; Sears, C.M.S. ; Spencer, J.E. ; Siemann, R.H.
Author_Institution :
Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
Abstract :
We have observed acceleration of relativistic electrons in vacuum driven by a linearly polarized visible laser beam incident on a thin gold-coated reflective boundary. The observed energy modulation effect follows all the characteristics expected for linear acceleration caused by a longitudinal electric field. As predicted by the Lawson-Woodward theorem the laser driven modulation only appears in the presence of the boundary. It shows a linear dependence with the strength of the electric field of the laser beam and also it is critically dependent on the laser polarization. Finally, it appears to follow the expected angular dependence of the inverse transition radiation process.
Keywords :
Acceleration; Dielectric materials; Electron accelerators; Electron beams; Laser beams; Laser theory; Laser transitions; Linear particle accelerator; Particle beams; Polarization;
Conference_Titel :
Particle Accelerator Conference, 2005. PAC 2005. Proceedings of the
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8859-3
DOI :
10.1109/PAC.2005.1590515