High-charge divergent electron beam generation from high-intensity laser interaction with a gas-cluster target

• Published in: Laser and particle beams Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 331 - 338
• Main Authors: Koester, P., Bussolino, G.C., Cristoforetti, G., Faenov, A., Giulietti, A., Giulietti, D., Labate, L., Levato, T., Pikuz, T., Gizzi, L.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Argon; Charge; Charged particles; Clusters; Divergence; Dosimetry; Electron beams; Electrons; Energy; Energy density; Gases; High power lasers; Kinetic energy; Kinetics; Lasers; Particle beams; Plasma; Plasma physics; Radiography; Clusters; Femtosecond lasers; Electron acceleration; Electron radiography
• ISSN: 0263-0346; 1469-803X
• DOI: 10.1017/S0263034615000014

We report on an experimental study on the interaction of a high-contrast 40 fs duration 2 TW laser pulse with an argon-cluster target. A high-charge, homogeneous, large divergence electron beam with moderate kinetic energy (~2 MeV) is observed in the forward direction. The results show that an electron beam with a charge as high as 12 nC can be obtained using a table-top laser system. It was demonstrated that the accelerated electron beam is suitable for a variety of applications such as micro-radiography of thin samples in a wide field of view. It can also be applied for in vitro dosimetry studies.