Femtosecond probing of plasma wakefields and observation of the plasma wake reversal using a relativistic electron bunch
Published in Physical Review Letters, 2017
Abstract: We show that a high-energy electron bunch can be used to capture the instantaneous longitudinal and transverse field structures of the highly transient, microscopic, laser-excited relativistic wake with femtosecond resolution. The spatiotemporal evolution of wakefields in a plasma density up ramp is measured and the reversal of the plasma wake, where the wake wavelength at a particular point in space increases until the wake disappears completely only to reappear at a later time but propagating in the opposite direction, is observed for the first time by using this new technique.
Recognition: This paper was selected as an “Editors’ Suggestion” and triggered extensive follow-up research at international institutes.
Impact: This work pioneered femtosecond relativistic electron probe (first experimental demonstration), opening new avenues for plasma wakefield visualization.
Recommended citation: Chaojie Zhang, Jianfei Hua, Yang Wan, Chi-Hao Pai, Bo Guo, Jie Zhang, Yue Ma, Fei Li, Yipeng Wu, Hsu-Hsin Chu, Yuqiu Gu, Xinlu Xu, Warren B. Mori, Chan Joshi, Jyhpyng Wang, Wei Lu, "Femtosecond probing of plasma wakefields and observation of the plasma wake reversal using a relativistic electron bunch," Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 064801 (2017).
Download Paper