Controlling the spectrum of x-rays generated in a laser-plasma accelerator by tailoring the laser wavefront

S. P.D. Mangles, G. Genoud, S. Kneip, M. Burza, K. Cassou, B. Cros, N. P. Dover, C. Kamperidis, Z. Najmudin, A. Persson, J. Schreiber, F. Wojda, C. G. Wahlström

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

By tailoring the wavefront of the laser pulse used in a laser-wakefield accelerator, we show that the properties of the x-rays produced due to the electron beam's betatron oscillations in the plasma can be controlled. By creating a wavefront with coma, we find that the critical energy of the synchrotronlike x-ray spectrum can be significantly increased. The coma does not substantially change the energy of the electron beam, but does increase its divergence and produces an energy-dependent exit angle, indicating that changes in the x-ray spectrum are due to an increase in the electron beam's oscillation amplitude within the wakefield.

Original languageEnglish
Article number181106
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume95
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2009
MoE publication typeNot Eligible

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