Speaker
Description
Laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) is a promising approach for generating high-charge electron beams for various applications. In collaboration with the Kansai Institute for Photon Science (QST-KPSI), we have been conducting experimental studies of LWFA using ionization injection to generate high-charge electron beams.
To improve the spectral quality of the accelerated electron beam, a plasma density down-ramp was introduced near the laser entrance region to control the electron injection process. The density profile was modified by inserting a blade into the gas flow, and the influence of the blade position on the electron energy spectrum was investigated. The experimental results showed that the beam monochromaticity depends on the blade position, demonstrating the effectiveness of density down-ramp injection. However, the electron energy achieved in the present experiment was limited to approximately 100 MeV.
In this presentation, we will report experimental results obtained at QST, together with related particle-in-cell simulations that provide insight into the electron injection dynamics. We will also introduce ongoing research activities on laser-plasma acceleration at Utsunomiya University.