Reduction of the electron-beam divergence of laser wakefield accelerators by integrated plasma lenses
Yen-Yu Chang, Jurjen Couperus Cabadağ, Alexander Debus, Amin Ghaith, Maxwell LaBerge, Richard Pausch, Susanne Schöbel, Patrick Ufer, U. Schramm, Arie Irman
Abstract
Laser-driven plasma accelerators (LPAs) can generate particle beams with high peak current in a short acceleration distance, making them a promising radiation source in compact setups. However, minimizing beam divergence at the exit of an LPA is crucial for effective beam transport, particularly in free-electron lasers (FELs). The authors implement an integrated plasma lens just a centimeter behind the LPA, effectively collimating the electron beam in a straightforward setup. This technique is essential for generating LPA-driven seeded FELs, and has potential for creating specific density profiles for adiabatic focusing, or for the staging of accelerators.