James Cowley

Abstract:

In multi-pulse laser wakefield acceleration (MP-LWFA) a plasma wave is driven by a train of low-energy laser pulses separated by the plasma period, an approach which offers a route to driving plasma accelerators with high efficiency and at high pulse repetition rates using emerging technologies such as fibre and thin-disk lasers. Whilst these laser technologies are in development, proof-of-principle tests of MP-LWFA require a pulse train to be generated from a single, high-energy ultrafast pulse. Here we demonstrate the generation of trains of up to 7 pulses with pulse separations in the range 150–170 fs from single 40 fs pulses produced by a Ti:sapphire laser.

Abstract:

Phase retrieval problem occurs in a number of areas in physics and is the subject of continuing investigation [1-15]. One dimensional case, for example, an electron bunch temporal profile reconstruction, is particularly challenging. Frequently applied methods, are reliable if the Blaschke phase [10-12] contribution is negligible. This, however, is neither known a priori nor can it be assumed for an arbitrary profile. In this work we present a novel algorithm with additional constraints which gives reproducible, stable solutions for profiles, both artificial and experimental, otherwise unresolved by existing techniques.