arXiv subjects

T. Tajima

Publications and source records attributed to T. Tajima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Nanostructure Accelerators: Novel concept and path to its realization

TeV/m acceleration gradients using crystals as originally envisioned by R. Hofstadter, an early pioneer of HEP, have remained unrealizable. Fundamental obstacles that have hampered efforts on particle acceleration using bulk-crystals arise from collisional energy loss and emittance degradation in addition to severe beam disruption despite the favorable effect of particle channeling along interatomic planes in bulk. We aspire for the union of nanoscience with accelerator science to not only overcome these problems using nanostructured tubes to avoid direct impact of the beam on bulk ion-lattice but also to utilize the highly tunable characteristics of nanomaterials. We pioneer a novel surface wave mechanism in nanostructured materials with a strong electrostatic component which not only attains tens of TeV/m gradients but also has focusing fields. Under our initiative, the proof-of-principle demonstration of tens of TeV/m gradients and beam nanomodulation is underway. Realizable nanostructure accelerators naturally promise new horizons in HEP as well as in a wide range of areas of research that utilize beams of high-energy particles or photons.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2020

Observational Signatures of Gamma Rays from Bright Blazars and Wakefield Theory

Gamma-ray observations have revealed strong variability in blazar luminosities in the gamma-ray band over time scales as short as minutes. We show, for the first time, that the correlation of the spectrum with intensity is consistent with the behavior of the luminosity variation of blazar SEDs along a blazar sequence for low synchrotron peak blazars. We show that the observational signatures of variability with flux are consistent with wakefield acceleration of electrons initiated by instabilities in the blazar accretion disk. This mechanism reproduces the observed time variations as short as 100 seconds. The wakefield mechanism also predicts a reduction of the electron spectral index with increased gamma-ray luminosity, which could be detected in higher energy observations well above the inverse Compton peak.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Ultra-brilliance isolated attosecond gamma-ray light source from nonlinear Compton scattering

The explosion in attosecond technology has opened the gate to investigating many unexplored areas which require ultrahigh spatial and temporal resolution. In the area of nuclear physics, using gamma-rays with ultrahigh resolution in time and space will help to investigate intra-nuclear dynamics in an unprecedentedly explicit way. However, the generation of ultrahigh brilliance attosecond gamma-ray pulses with current-generation laser facilities has not been reported. In this letter, we propose a novel method to generate high charge (~1nC) attosecond (<200 attosecond) electron bunch by the near-threshold self-injection in a wakefield accelerator. We demonstrate the ability to generate an ultrahigh-brilliance (> 2*1024 photons s-1mm-2mrad-2 per 0.1%BW) attosecond (<200 attosecond) gamma-ray (Emax > 3 MeV) pulse via nonlinear Compton scattering. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first method reported to generate attosecond gamma-ray photon source using current-generation laser. This is the shortest gamma-ray photon and the highest brilliance photon source in MeV range (orders higher than the results reported). This method can be widely applied for experimental generation of 100 keV to several MeV high brilliance attosecond gamma-ray sources with current ~100 TW laser facilities, which will benefit basic science such as application in ultra-high resolution radiography.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Ultra-High Gradient Channeling Acceleration in Nanostructures: Design/Progress of Proof-of-Concept (POC) Experiments

This paper describes simulation analyses on beam and laser (X-ray)-driven accelerations in effective nanotube models obtained from Vsim and EPOCH codes. Experimental setups to detect wakefields are also outlined with accelerator facilities at Fermilab and NIU. In the FAST facility, the electron beamline was successfully commissioned at 50 MeV and it is being upgraded toward higher energies for electron accelerator R&D. The 50 MeV injector beamline of the facility is used for X-ray crystal-channeling radiation with a diamond target. It has been proposed to utilize the same diamond crystal for a channeling acceleration POC test. Another POC experiment is also designed for the NIU accelerator lab with time-resolved electron diffraction. Recently, a stable generation of single-cycle laser pulses with tens of Petawatt power based on thin film compression (TFC) technique has been investigated for target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) and radiation pressure acceleration (RPA). The experimental plan with a nanometer foil is discussed with an available test facility such as Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP).

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

Ultrasmall divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils

We report on experimental studies of divergence of proton beams from nanometer thick diamond-like carbon (DLC) foils irradiated by an intense laser with high contrast. Proton beams with extremely small divergence (half angle) of 2 degree are observed in addition with a remarkably well-collimated feature over the whole energy range, showing one order of magnitude reduction of the divergence angle in comparison to the results from micrometer thick targets. We demonstrate that this reduction arises from a steep longitudinal electron density gradient and an exponentially decaying transverse profile at the rear side of the ultrathin foils. Agreements are found both in an analytical model and in particle-in-cell simulations. Those novel features make nm foils an attractive alternative for high flux experiments relevant for fundamental research in nuclear and warm dense matter physics.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2013

Two-band effect on the vortex dynamics and critical current density in an anisotropic MgB$_2$ thin film

We report the influence of intrinsic superconducting parameters on the vortex dynamics and the critical current densities of a MgB$_2$ thin film. The small magnetic penetration depth of λ= 50 nm at T=4 K is related to a clean π-band, and transport and magnetization data show an upper critical field similar to those reported in clean single crystals. We find a high self-field critical current density Jc, which is strongly reduced with applied magnetic field, and attribute this to suppression of the superconductivity in the π-band. The temperature dependence of the creep rate S(T) at low magnetic field can be explained by a simple Anderson-Kim mechanism. The system shows high pinning energies at low field that are strongly suppressed by high field, which is consistent with a two-band contribution.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Fundamental Physics Explored with High Intensity Laser

Over the last Century the method of particle acceleration to high energies has become the prime approach to explore the fundamental nature of matter in laboratory. It appears that the latest search of the contemporary accelerator based on the colliders shows a sign of saturation (or at least a slow-down) in increasing its energy and other necessary parameters to extend this frontier. We suggest two pronged approach enabled by the recent progress in high intensity lasers.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

The Pulse Intensity-Duration Conjecture: Evidence from Free-Electron Lasers

The recent remark by G. Mourou and T. Tajima (Science 331, 41 (2011)) on the intensity of the driver laser pulse and the duration of the created pulse that higher driver beam intensities are needed to reach shorter pulses of radiation remains a conjecture without clear theoretical reasoning so far. Here we offer its extension to the case of relativistic electron bunches as the laser's radiating medium (free-electron laser). This also bolsters the understanding of the underlying physical principle of the Conjecture.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2012

Direct measurement of the magnetic penetration depth by magnetic force microscopy

We present an experimental approach using magnetic force microscopy for measurements of the absolute value of the magnetic penetration depth $λ$ in superconductors. $λ$ is obtained in a simple and robust way without introducing any tip modeling procedure via direct comparison of the Meissner response curves for a material of interest to those measured on a reference sample. Using a well-characterized Nb film as a reference, we determine the absolute value of $λ$ in a Ba(Fe$_{0.92}$Co$_{0.08}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ single crystal and a MgB$_2$ thin film through a comparative experiment. Our apparatus features simultaneous loading of multiple samples, and allows straightforward measurement of the absolute value of $λ$ in superconducting thin film or single crystal samples.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Soft X-ray harmonic comb from relativistic electron spikes

We demonstrate a new high-order harmonic generation mechanism reaching the `water window' spectral region in experiments with multi-terawatt femtosecond lasers irradiating gas jets. A few hundred harmonic orders are resolved, giving uJ/sr pulses. Harmonics are collectively emitted by an oscillating electron spike formed at the joint of the boundaries of a cavity and bow wave created by a relativistically self-focusing laser in underdense plasma. The spike sharpness and stability are explained by catastrophe theory. The mechanism is corroborated by particle-in-cell simulations.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Laser-driven collimated tens-GeV monoenergetic protons from mass-limited target plus preformed channel

Proton acceleration by ultra-intense laser pulse irradiating a target with cross-section smaller than the laser spot size and connected to a parabolic density channel is investigated. The target splits the laser into two parallel propagating parts, which snowplow the back-side plasma electrons along their paths, creating two adjacent parallel wakes and an intense return current in the gap between them. The radiation-pressure pre-accelerated target protons trapped in the wake fields now undergo acceleration as well as collimation by the quasistatic wake electrostatic and magnetic fields. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation shows that stable long-distance acceleration can be realized, and a 30 fs monoenergetic ion beam of > 10 GeV peak energy and < 2degree divergence can be produced by a 9.8 *10^21 W/cm2 circularly polarized laser pulse.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Exawatt-Zettawatt Pulse Generation and Applications

A new amplification method, weaving the three basic compression techniques, Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA), Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplification (OPCPA) and Plasma Compression by Backward Raman Amplification (BRA) in plasma, is proposed. It is called C3 for Cascaded Conversion Compression. It has the capability to compress with good efficiency kilojoule to megajoule, nanosecond laser pulses into femtosecond pulses, to produce exawatt and beyond peak power. In the future, C3 could be used at large-scale facilities such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF) or the Laser Megajoule (LMJ) and open the way to zettawatt level pulses. The beam will be focused to a wavelength spot size with a f#1. The very small beam size, i.e. few centimeters, along with the low laser repetition rate laser system will make possible the use of inexpensive, precision, disposable optics. The resulting intensity will approach the Schwinger value, thus opening up new possibilities in fundamental physics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2011

Generating sub-TeV quasi-monoenergetic proton beam by an ultra-relativistically intense laser in the snowplow regime

Snowplow ion acceleration is presented, using an ultra-relativistically intense laser pulse irradi- ating on a combination target, where the relativistic proton beam generated by radiation pressure acceleration can be trapped and accelerated by the laser plasma wakefield. The theory suggests that sub-TeV quasi-monoenergetic proton bunches can be generated by a centimeter-scale laser wakefield accelerator, driven by a circularly polarized (CP) laser pulse with the peak intensity of 10^23W/cm^2 and duration of 116fs.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2010

Dynamics of Nanometer-Scale Foil Targets Irradiated with Relativistically Intense Laser Pulses

In this letter we report on an experimental study of high harmonic radiation generated in nanometer-scale foil targets irradiated under normal incidence. The experiments constitute the first unambiguous observation of odd-numbered relativistic harmonics generated by the $\vec{v}\times\vec{B}$ component of the Lorentz force verifying a long predicted property of solid target harmonics. Simultaneously the observed harmonic spectra allow in-situ extraction of the target density in an experimental scenario which is of utmost interest for applications such as ion acceleration by the radiation pressure of an ultraintense laser.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2010

Laser Acceleration toward PeV Feeling the Texture of Vacuum

Identified is a set of ballpark parameters for laser, plasma, and accelerator technologies that are defined for accelerated electron energies reaching as high as PeV. These parameters are carved out from the scaling laws that govern the physics of laser acceleration, theoretically suggested and experimentally explored over a wide range in the recent years. We extrapolate this knowledge toward PeV energies. In the density regime on the order of 10^16 cm^-3, it is possible to consider the application of the existing NIF (or LMJ) or its extended lasers to their appropriate retrofitting for this purpose. Although the ambition of luminosity is not pursued, such energies by themselves may allow us to begin to feel and study the physics of the 'texture of vacuum'. This is an example of fundamental physics exploration without the need of luminosity paradigm. By converting accelerated electrons with extreme energies to like energy gamma photons, and let them propagate through vacuum over a sufficient distance, these extremely high energy (and therefore short wavelength) photons experience smallest vacuum structures and fluctuations. If we can measure the arrival time differential and thus the gamma photon speed as a function of different energies such as 0.1 PeV vs 1 PeV, say within attoseconds accuracy, we can collect valuable data if and how gamma photons still obeys the premise of relativity or the vacuum texture begins to alter such fundamentals. The only method currently available to look at this problem may be to study astrophysical data of the primordial gamma ray bursts (GRBs), which are compared with the presently suggested approach.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Collective deceleration: toward a compact beam dump

With the increasing development of laser accelerators, the electron energy is already beyond GeV and even higher in near future. Conventional beam dump based on ionization or radiation loss mechanism is cumbersome and costly, also has radiological hazards. We revisit the stopping power of high-energy charged particles in matter and discuss the associated problem of beam dump from the point of view of collective deceleration. The collective stopping length in an ionized gas can be several orders of magnitude shorter than the Bethe-Bloch and multiple electromagnetic cascades' stopping length in solid. At the mean time, the tenuous density of the gas makes the radioactivation negligible. Such a compact and non-radioactivating beam dump works well for short and dense bunches, which is typically generated from laser wakefield accelerator.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Efficient ion acceleration by collective laser-driven electron dynamics with ultra-thin foil targets

Experiments on ion acceleration by irradiation of ultra-thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) foils, with thicknesses well below the skin depth, irradiated with laser pulses of ultra-high contrast and linear polarization, are presented. A maximum energy of 13MeV for protons and 71MeV for carbon ions is observed with a conversion efficiency of > 10%. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations reveal that the increase in ion energies can be attributed to a dominantly collective rather than thermal motion of the foil electrons, when the target becomes transparent for the incident laser pulse.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Radiation Pressure Acceleration of Ion Beams Driven by Circularly Polarized Laser Pulses

We present experimental studies on ion acceleration from ultra-thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) foils irradiated by ultra-high contrast laser pulses of energy 0.7 J focussed to peak intensities of 5*10^{19} W/cm^2. A reduction in electron heating is observed when the laser polarization is changed from linear to circular, leading to a pronounced peak in the fully ionized carbon spectrum at the optimum foil thickness of 5.3 nm. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations reveal, that those C^{6+} ions are for the first time dominantly accelerated in a phase-stable way by the laser radiation pressure.

physics.plasm-ph↗