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arXiv · 2401.05037

Coherent Control of Relativistic Electron Dynamics in Plasma Nanophotonics

Ankit Dulat·Sk Rakeeb·Sagar Dam·Amit D. Lad·Yash M. Ved·Sergey Kruk·G. Ravindra Kumar
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Abstract

Intense femtosecond laser pulses interacting with solids can drive electrons to relativistic energies, enabling miniaturized particle accelerators and bright extreme-ultraviolet light sources. In-situ space-time control of these electrons is crucial for developing next-generation laser-based accelerators but remains extremely challenging. We present a novel approach to achieve such control by manipulating the local fields driving these electrons using a nanoengineered dielectric nanopillar target. We demonstrate via experiments and simulations that this sub-femtosecond and nanometer-scale control enables enhanced electron acceleration and control of the directionality of relativistic electrons over a wide angular range and predicts the coherent formation of sub-femtosecond electron bunches from the nanopillars. This research bridges nanophotonics and strong-field plasma physics, offering new opportunities for in-situ control of high-energy particles and advancements in plasma technology.

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Ankit Dulat, Sk Rakeeb, Sagar Dam, Amit D. Lad, Yash M. Ved, Sergey Kruk, G. Ravindra Kumar. 2024-01-10. Coherent Control of Relativistic Electron Dynamics in Plasma Nanophotonics. https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202401570

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