2018 Modeling of Ultrafast High Current Electron Beam Transport in Air
Abstract
The overall goal of this proposal is to understand the physics of the generation and propagation of ultrashort electron beams in atmosphere using advanced simulation tools relevant to experiments on the PHEENIX laser at AFRL Kirtland. It will have two components. The first, led by the PI will be to study the physics of the propagation of femtosecond duration electron beams generated by laser wakefield acceleration through air using the particle in cell code OSIRIS 4.0, available through collaboration with PICKSC at UCLA. The second, led by the co PI, will be to develop grid free methods for resolving the phase space detail in wakefield accelerated beams for modeling beam propagation with high fidelity. Typical plasma modeling efforts are focused on either a fluid description, which is inadequate for describing particle kinetics, or particle based methods, which while robust suffer from noise. They also require the addition of Monte Carlo methods to be added to describe collisions and impact ionization. The interplay of the effects of ionization, beam driven wakefield production and collisions is highly complex and requires accurate modeling. These conditions are precisely what occur in typical high intensity laser plasma and electron beam production-propagation experiments, such as those ongoing at the Air Force Research Laboratories. This work would be in collaboration with Jennifer Elle at AFRL Kirtland, who is leading an experimental program in studying the propagation of high current electron beams generated by laser wakefield acceleration in air for applications relevant to directed energy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910072
Entities
People
- Alexander G. Thomas
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
- United States Air Force