Wavefront-sensor-based electron density measurements for laser-plasma accelerators

Characterization of the electron density in laser produced plasmas is presented using direct wavefront analysis of a probe laser beam. The performance of a laser-driven plasma-wakefield accelerator depends on the plasma wavelength and hence on the electron density. Density measurements using a conve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of scientific instruments 2010-03, Vol.81 (3), p.033108-033108-5
Main Authors: Plateau, G. R., Matlis, N. H., Geddes, C. G. R., Gonsalves, A. J., Shiraishi, S., Lin, C., van Mourik, R. A., Leemans, W. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRON DENSITY
INTERFEROMETERS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
PHOTON BEAMS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA GUNS
SENSITIVITY
SENSORS
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS
WAVELENGTHS
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Summary:Characterization of the electron density in laser produced plasmas is presented using direct wavefront analysis of a probe laser beam. The performance of a laser-driven plasma-wakefield accelerator depends on the plasma wavelength and hence on the electron density. Density measurements using a conventional folded-wave interferometer and using a commercial wavefront sensor are compared for different regimes of the laser-plasma accelerator. It is shown that direct wavefront measurements agree with interferometric measurements and, because of the robustness of the compact commercial device, offer greater phase sensitivity and straightforward analysis, improving shot-to-shot plasma density diagnostics.
ISSN:0034-6748
1089-7623
DOI:10.1063/1.3360889