eprintid: 29242
rev_number: 19
eprint_status: archive
userid: 5615
dir: disk0/00/02/92/42
datestamp: 2020-12-18 07:29:22
lastmod: 2021-01-19 10:07:52
status_changed: 2020-12-18 07:29:22
type: doctoralThesis
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Sampath, Archana
title: Strong-field QED and collisional effects in electron beam-plasma interaction
subjects: ddc-500
subjects: ddc-520
subjects: ddc-530
divisions: i-130001
divisions: i-741010
divisions: i-851340
adv_faculty: af-13
abstract: Intense high-energy particle beams are used in fundamental sciences, material sciences, relativistic laboratory astrophysics, and in the industry. Traditionally, dense collimated multi-GeV photon and electron-positron beams are generated via bremsstrahlung and Bethe-Heitler (BH) electron-positron pair creation, respectively. Recent research has focused on strong-field QED processes for greatly enhancing the flux and intensity of the generated beams. To determine the relative role of collisional and strong-field QED processes, we implemented bremsstrahlung and BH pair production processes in the particle-in-cell code Smilei. Using simulations, we show that a high-current ultrarelativistic electron beam interacting with a submicrometer-thick conducting foils can undergo strong self-focusing accompanied by efficient emission of gamma-ray photons. We study the effect of varying electron beam shape, radius and length on the final radiated energy. We show that the self-generated fields can be strong enough that emission occurs in the strong-field QED regime, where a single emitted photon can carry away a significant fraction of the emitting electron energy. We demonstrate that, after beam collision with multiple foils, femtosecond collimated electron and photon beams with particle number density exceeding that of a solid are obtained. This study is timely as it enables laserless strong-field QED investigations with a single high-current electron beam, particularly relevant for the upcoming FACET II facility.
date: 2020
id_scheme: DOI
id_number: 10.11588/heidok.00029242
ppn_swb: 1744104255
own_urn: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-292426
date_accepted: 2020-11-18
advisor: HASH(0x561a62cf3ec8)
language: eng
bibsort: SAMPATHARCSTRONGFIEL2020
full_text_status: public
place_of_pub: Heidelberg
citation:   Sampath, Archana  (2020) Strong-field QED and collisional effects in electron beam-plasma interaction.  [Dissertation]     
document_url: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/29242/1/Thesis_Archana_Sampath_02.10.2020.pdf