Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 084801 (2007) [4 pages]Ionization-Induced Electron Trapping in Ultrarelativistic Plasma WakesReceived 23 October 2006; published 23 February 2007 The onset of trapping of electrons born inside a highly relativistic, 3D beam-driven plasma wake is investigated. Trapping occurs in the transition regions of a Li plasma confined by He gas. Li plasma electrons support the wake, and higher ionization potential He atoms are ionized as the beam is focused by Li ions and can be trapped. As the wake amplitude is increased, the onset of trapping is observed. Some electrons gain up to 7.6 GeV in a 30.5 cm plasma. The experimentally inferred trapping threshold is at a wake amplitude of 36 GV/m, in good agreement with an analytical model and PIC simulations. © 2007 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.084801
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.084801
PACS:
41.75.Ht, 41.75.Lx, 52.25.Jm, 52.40.Mj
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