arXiv subjects

Alexander Pukhov

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Pukhov.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Polarized Proton Beams from Laser-induced Plasmas

We report on the concept of an innovative source to produce polarized proton/deuteron beams of a kinetic energy up to several GeV from a laser-driven plasma accelerator. Spin effects have been implemented into the PIC simulation code VLPL to make theoretical predictions about the behavior of proton spins in laser-induced plasmas. Simulations of spin-polarized targets show that the polarization is conserved during the acceleration process. For the experimental realization, a polarized HCl gas-jet target is under construction using the fundamental wavelength of a Nd:YAG laser system to align the HCl bonds and simultaneously circular polarized light of the fifth harmonic to photo-dissociate, yielding nuclear polarized H atoms. Subsequently, their degree of polarization is measured with a Lamb-shift polarimeter. The final experiments, aiming at the first observation of a polarized particle beam from laser-generated plasmas, will be carried out at the 10 PW laser system SULF at SIOM/Shanghai.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2018

micrOMEGAs5.0 : freeze-in

We present a major upgrade of the micrOMEGAs dark matter code to compute the abundance of feebly interacting dark matter candidates through the freeze-in mechanism in generic extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. We develop the necessary formalism in order to solve the freeze-in Boltzmann equations while making as few simplifying assumptions as possible concerning the phase-space distributions of the particles involved in the dark matter production process. We further show that this formalism allows us to treat different freeze-in scenarios and discuss the way it is implemented in the code. We find that, depending on the New Physics scenario under consideration, the effect of a proper treatment of statistics on the predicted dark matter abundance can range from a few percent up to a factor of two, or more. We moreover illustrate the underlying physics, as well as the various novel functionalities of micrOMEGAs, by presenting several example results obtained for different dark matter models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Interplay of the LHC and non-LHC Dark Matter searches in the Effective Field Theory approach

We present accurate and up-to-date constraints on the complete set of dimension five and six operators with scalar, fermion and vector Dark Matter (DM). We find limits using LHC mono-jet data, spin inde- pendent and spin dependent direct searches, relic density and CMB, and show the interplay between high and low energy data in setting bounds on the parameter space. In order to properly compare data taken at different energies, we take into account the effect of the running and mixing of operators. We also take into account the local density uncertainties affecting direct detection data, and apply EFT validity criteria related to the cut on the invariant mass of DM pair production at the LHC, which turns out to be especially important for the case of vector DM. Finally, we estimate the potential of the future LHC runs to probe DM parameter space.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Study of external electron injection and trapping in the blow-out regime

In this work we study electron side-injection and trapping in the blow-out regime in deep plasma channels. We analyze the maximum angle of injection, for which at least 90\% of the injected electrons are trapped. We discuss the dependence of this angle on the electrons' initial energy and their injection positions. In the scope of a semi-analytical blow-out model we show that the injection position is a less critical factor for trapping if electrons are injected into deep plasma channels. PIC simulations and analytical approximations support our results from the semi-analytical model.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2018

2D structures of electron bunches in relativistic plasma cavities

The spatial structure of an ultra-low emittance electron bunch in a plasma wakefield blowout regime is studied. The full Liénard-Wiechert potentials are considered for mutual inter-particle interactions in the framework of the equilibrium slice model (ESM). This model uses the quasi-static theory which allows to solve the Liénard-Wiechert potentials without knowledge of the electrons' history. The equilibrium structure we find is similar to already observed hexagonal lattices but shows topological defects. Scaling laws for interparticle distances are obtained from numerical simulations and analytical estimations.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Relativistic magnetic reconnection driven by a laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental plasma process associated with conversion of the embedded magnetic field energy into kinetic and thermal plasma energy, via bulk acceleration and Ohmic dissipation. In many high-energy astrophysical events, magnetic reconnection is invoked to explain the non-thermal signatures. However, the processes by which field energy is transferred to the plasma to power the observed emission are still not properly understood. Here, via 3D particle-in-cell simulations of a readily available (TW-mJ-class) laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab, we show that when the electron beams excited on both sides of the slab approach the end of the plasma structure, ultrafast relativistic magnetic reconnection occurs in a magnetically-dominated (low-$β$) plasma. The resulting efficient particle acceleration leads to the emission of relativistic electron jets with cut-off energy $\sim$ 12 MeV. The proposed scenario can significantly improve understanding of fundamental questions such as reconnection rate, field dissipation and particle acceleration in relativistic magnetic reconnection.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Dark Matter characterization at the LHC in the Effective Field Theory approach

We have studied the complete set of dimension 5 and dimension 6 effective operators involving the interaction of scalar, fermion and vector Dark Matter (DM) with SM quarks and gluons, to explore the possibility to distinguish these operators and characterise the spin of DM at the LHC. We have found that three factors - the effective dimension of the operator, the structure of the SM part of the operator and the parton densities of the SM particles connected to the operator - uniquely define the shape of the (unobservable) invariant mass distribution of the DM pair and, consequently, the shape of the (observable) MET distribution related to it. Using $χ^2$ analysis, we found that at the LHC, with a luminosity of 300 fb$^{-1}$, certain classes of EFT operators can be distinguished from each other. Hence, since DM spin is partly correlated with the factors defining the shape of MET, the LHC can potentially shed a light also on DM spin. We have also observed a drastic difference in the efficiencies (up to two orders of magnitude) for large MET cuts scenarios with different DM spin, thus indicating that the DM discovery potential strongly depends on it. The study we perform here can be applied more generally than within the EFT paradigm, where the DM mediator is not produced on-the-mass-shell, such as the case of t-channel mediator or mediator with mass below $2M_{DM}$, where the invariant mass of the DM pair is not fixed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Bright high-order harmonic generation with controllable polarization from a relativistic plasma mirror

Ultrafast extreme ultraviolet (XUV) sources with a controllable polarization state are powerful tools for investigating the structural and electronic as well as the magnetic properties of materials. However, such light sources are still limited to only a few free-electron laser facilities and, very recently, to high-order harmonic generation from noble gases. Here we propose and numerically demonstrate a laser-plasma scheme to generate bright XUV pulses with fully controlled polarization. In this scheme, an elliptically-polarized laser pulse is obliquely incident on a plasma surface, and the reflected radiation contains pulse trains and isolated circularly- or highly-elliptically-polarized attosecond XUV pulses. The harmonic polarization state is fully controlled by the laser-plasma parameters. The mechanism can be explained within the relativistically oscillating mirror model. This scheme opens a practical and promising route to generate bright attosecond XUV pulses with desirable ellipticities in a straightforward and efficient way for a number of applications.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Analytical approach to high harmonics spectrum in the nanobunching regime

With the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from plasma sur- faces it is possible to turn a laser pulse into a train of attosecond or even zeptosecond pulses in the backward radiation. These attosecond pulses may have amplitude several orders of magnitude higher than that of the laser pulse under appropriate conditions. We study this process in detail, especially the nanobunching of the plasma electron density. We derive an analytical expression that describes the electron density pro- file and obtain a good agreement with particle-in-cell simulation results. We investigate the most efficient case of HHG at moderate laser intensity (I = 2*10^20 W/cm^2 ) on the over-dense plasma slab with an exponential profile pre-plasma. Subsequently we calculate the spectra of a single at- tosecond pulse from the backward radiation using our expression for the density shape in combination with the equation for the spectrum of the nanobunch radiation.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Raman amplification in the coherent wavebreaking regime

In regimes far beyond the wavebreaking threshold of Raman amplification, we show that significant amplifcation can occur after the onset of wavebreaking, before phase mixing destroys the coherent coupling between pump, probe and plasma wave. Amplification in this regime is therefore a transient effect, with the higher-efficiency "coherent wavebreaking" (CWB) regime accessed by using a short, intense probe. Parameter scans illustrate the marked difference in behaviour between below wavebreaking, in which the energy-transfer efficiency is high but total energy transfer is low, wavebreaking, in which efficiency is low, and CWB, in which moderate efficiencies allow the highest total energy transfer.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Wavebreaking-associated transmitted emission of attosecond extreme-ultraviolet pulses from laser-driven overdense plasmas

We present a new mechanism of attosecond extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses generation from a relativistic laser-driven overdense plasma surfaces in the wavebreaking regime. Through particle-in-cell simulations and analysis, we demonstrate that the observed ultrashort XUV emission for the parameters we considered is predominantly due to a strong plasma-density oscillation subsequent to wavebreaking. The coupling of the strong density variation and the transverse fields in the front surface layer gives rise to the transmitted emission with frequencies mainly around the local plasma frequency. This mechanism provides new insights into the scenarios of XUV generation from solid surfaces and the dynamics of laser-plasma interactions.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Quasi-stable injection channels in a wakefield accelerator

The influence of initial position on the acceleration of externally-injected electrons in a plasma wakefield is investigated. Test-particle simulations show previously unobserved complex structure in the parameter space, with quasi-stable injection channels forming for particles injected in narrow regions away from the wake centre. Particles injected into these channels remain in the wake for a considerable time after dephasing, and as a result achieve significantly higher energy than their neighbours. The result is relevant to both the planning and optimisation of experiments making use of external injection.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Radiation from laser-microplasma-waveguide interactions in the ultra-intense regime

When a high-contrast ultra-relativistic laser beam enters a micro-sized plasma waveguide, the pulse energy is coupled into waveguide modes, which remarkably modifies the interaction of electrons and electromagnetic wave. The electrons that pulled out of walls form a dense helical bunch inside the channel are efficiently accelerated by the transverse magnetic modes to hundreds of MeVs. In the mean time, the asymmetry in the transverse electric and magnetic fields provides significant wiggling that leads to a bright, well-collimated emission of hard X-rays. In this paper, we present our study on the underlying physics in the aforementioned process using 3D particle-in-cell simulations. The mechanism of electron acceleration and the dependence of radiation properties on different laser plasma parameters are addressed. A theoretical analysis model and basic scalings for X-ray emission are also presented by considering the lowest optical modes in the waveguide, which is adequate to describe the basic observed phenomenon. In addition, the effects of high order modes as well as laser polarization are also qualitatively discussed. The considered X-ray source have promising features that might serve as a competitive candidate for future tabletop synchrotron source.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Nano-scale ultra-dense Z-pinches formation from laser-irradiated nanowire arrays

We show that ulta-dense Z-pinches with nanoscale dimensions can be generated by irradiating aligned nanowires with femtosecond laser pulses of relativistic intensity. Using fully three-dimensional relativistic particle-in-cell simulations we demonstrate that the laser pulse drives a forward electron current in the area around the wires. This forward current induces return current densities of $\sim$ 0.1 Giga-Amperes per $μ$m\textsuperscript{2} through the wires. The resulting strong, quasi-static, self-generated azimuthal magnetic field pinches the nanowires into hot plasmas with a peak electron density of $> 9\cdot 10^{24}$ cm\textsuperscript{-3}, exceeding 1000 times the critical density. Arrays of these new ultra-dense nanopinches can be expected to lead to efficient micro-fusion and other applications.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Optmized stability of a modulated driver in a plasma wakefield accelerator

We analyze the transverse stability for a configuration of multiple gaussian bunches subject to the self-generated plasma wakefield. Through a semi-analytical approach we first study the equilibrium configuration for the modulated beam and then we investigate the evolution of the equilibrium configuration due to the emittance-driven expansion of the beam front that results in a rigid backward shift. The rear-directed shift brings the modulated beam out of the equilibrium, with the possibility for some of the bunch particles to be lost with a consequent deterioration of the driver. We look therefore for the proper position of the single bunches that maximize the stability without severely affecting the accelerating field behind the driver. We then compare the results with 3D PIC simulations.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Direct acceleration of electrons by a CO$_{2}$ laser in a curved plasma waveguide

Laser plasma interaction with micro-engineered targets at relativistic intensities has been greatly promoted by recent progress in the high contrast lasers and the manufacture of advanced micro- and nano-structures. This opens new possibilities for the physics of laser-matter interaction. Here we propose a novel approach that leverages the advantages of high-pressure CO$_{2}$ laser, laser-waveguide interaction, as well as micro-engineered plasma structure to accelerate electrons to peak energy greater than 1 GeV with narrow slice energy spread ($\sim1\%$) and high overall efficiency. The acceleration gradient is 26 GV/m for a 1.3 TW CO$_{2}$ laser system. The micro-bunching of a long electron beam leads to the generation of a chain of ultrashort electron bunches with the duration roughly equal to half-laser-cycle. These results open a way for developing a compact and economic electron source for diverse applications.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Characterization of the equilibrium configuration for modulated beams in a plasma wakefield accelerator

We analyze the equilibrium configuration for a modulated beam with sharp boundaries exposed to the fields self-generated by the interaction with a plasma. Through a semi-analytical approach we show the presence of multiple equilibrium configurations and we determine the one more suitable for wakefield excitation. Once pointed out the absence of confinement for the front of the beam and the consequently divergence driven by the emittance, we study the evolution of the equilibrium configuration while propagating in the plasma, discarding all the others time-dependencies. We show the onset of a rigid backward drift of the equilibrium configuration and we provide an explanation in the increasing length of the first bunch.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

Strong Ionization in carbon Nanowires

Surfaces covered with nanostructures, such as nanowire arrays, have shown to facilitate a significantly higher absorption of laser energy as compared to flat surfaces. Due to the efficient coupling of the laser energy, highly energetic electrons are produced, which in turn can emit intense ultrafast X-ray pulses. In the present work we use full three dimensional PIC simulations to analyze the behavior of arrays of carbon nanowires $400 nm$ in diameter, irradiated by a $λ_0 = 400 nm$ laser pulse of $60 fs$ duration at FWHM and a vector potential of $a_0 = 18$. We analyze the ionization dynamics of the nanowires. We investigate the difference of the ionization strength and structure between linearly and circularly polarized laser beam. The nanowires are found to be fully ionized after about 30 laser cycles. Circularly polarized light reveals a slightly stronger ionization effect.

physics.plasm-ph↗