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Reflection of an electron beam by a photon mirror

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2007

J. T. MENDONÇA
Affiliation:
GoLP, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal (titomend@ist.utl.pt)
L. O. SILVA
Affiliation:
GoLP, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal (titomend@ist.utl.pt)
R. BINGHAM
Affiliation:
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 OQX, UK Physics Department, University of Strathclyde, 107 Rottenrow East, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland, UK

Abstract

A new configuration for the laser accelerator is proposed, which is inspired by the relativistic photon mirror effect. The material mirror is replaced here by an intense laser pulse, acting as a photon mirror for the incoming charged particles. A sufficient condition for particle reflection at such a photon mirror is established and three types of particle trajectories are described. A snow-plow acceleration regime is identified and quantitatively defined. Production of intense radiation bursts by the charged particle beam during the reflection process is also demonstrated.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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