PIC Simulation of Enhanced Electron Acceleration in a Double Nozzle Gas Target Using Spatial–Temporal Coupling with Axiparabola Optics

Abstract

In this paper, the results of a Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulation of electrons accelerated using a 10 fs Top-hat (TH) beam with a limited pulse energy of 85 mJ, focused on a double nozzle gas target using an off-axis parabola (OAP), an axiparabola (AXP), and an axiparabola with additional spatial–temporal coupling (AXP+STC), are discussed. The energy of accelerated electrons was predominantly determined through self-focusing and the ionisation injection effects of the laser beam propagating in plasma. The maximal energy of electrons accelerated using an AXP+STC could be higher by 12% compared to the energy of electrons accelerated by the regular OAP.

Keywords

• laser wakefield acceleration
• electron acceleration
• top-hat laser beam
• double nozzle gas target