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A laser acceleratorIt is shown that a laser can efficiently accelerate charged particles if a magnetic field is introduced to improve the coupling between the particle and the wave. Solving the relativistic equations of motion for an electron in a uniform magnetic field and superposed, circularly polarized electromagnetic wave, it is found that in energy-position phase space an electron traces out a curtate cycloid: it alternately gains and loses energy. If, however, the parameters are chosen so that the electron's oscillations in the two fields are resonant, it will continually accelerate or decelerate depending on its initial position within a wavelength of light. A laboratory accelerator operating under these resonant conditions appears attractive: in a magnetic field of 10,000 gauss, and the fields of a 5 x 10 to the 12th W, 10 micron wavelength laser, an optimally positioned electron would accelerate to 700 MeV in only 10 m.
Document ID
19790064474
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Colson, W. B.
(Rice University Houston, Tex., United States)
Ride, S. K.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Tex., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Applied Physics
Volume: 20
Subject Category
Lasers And Masers
Accession Number
79A48487
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7490
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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