Acceleration of sub-relativistic electrons with an evanescent optical wave at a planar interface

Kozak M, Beck P, Deng H, McNeur J, Schönenberger N, Gaida C, Stutzki F, Gebhardt M, Limpert J, Ruehl A, Hartl I, Solgaard O, Harris JS, Byer RL, Hommelhoff P (2017)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Book Volume: 25

Pages Range: 19195-19204

Journal Issue: 16

DOI: 10.1364/OE.25.019195

Abstract

We report on a theoretical and experimental study of the energy transfer between an optical evanescent wave, propagating in vacuum along the planar boundary of a dielectric material, and a beam of sub-relativistic electrons. The evanescent wave is excited via total internal reflection in the dielectric by an infrared (λ = 2 μm) femtosecond laser pulse. By matching the electron propagation velocity to the phase velocity of the evanescent wave, energy modulation of the electron beam is achieved. A maximum energy gain of 800 eV is observed, corresponding to the absorption of more than 1000 photons by one electron. The maximum observed acceleration gradient is 19 ± 2 MeV/m. The striking advantage of this scheme is that a structuring of the acceleration element’s surface is not required, enabling the use of materials with high laser damage thresholds that are difficult to nano-structure, such as SiC, Al₂O₃ or CaF₂.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Stanford University United States (USA) (US) Helmholtz-Institut Jena (HI-Jena) / Helmholtz Institute Jena Germany (DE) Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Kozak, M., Beck, P., Deng, H., McNeur, J., Schönenberger, N., Gaida, C.,... Hommelhoff, P. (2017). Acceleration of sub-relativistic electrons with an evanescent optical wave at a planar interface. Optics Express, 25(16), 19195-19204. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.25.019195

MLA:

Kozak, Martin, et al. "Acceleration of sub-relativistic electrons with an evanescent optical wave at a planar interface." Optics Express 25.16 (2017): 19195-19204.

BibTeX: Download