Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-01088

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Self-guided propagation of laser pulses reflected at high intensity from plasma mirrors

Gruse, J.-N.Extern* ; Lopes, N. C.Extern* ; Shalloo, R. J.DESY* ; Hills, J. (Corresponding author) ; Alejo, A. ; Audet, T. L. ; Backhouse, M. P. ; Bourgeois, N. ; Gerstmayr, E.Extern* ; Mangles, S. P. D.Extern*XFEL.EU* ; Põder, K.Extern*DESY* ; Rajeev, P. P. ; Rozario, S. ; Sarri, G.Extern* ; V Streeter, M. J. ; Wood, J. C.DESY* ; Najmudin, Z.

2025
Dt. Physikalische Ges. [Bad Honnef]

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1088/1367-2630/ae2cbf

Abstract: The reflectivity and optical quality of laser pulses reflected off 125 μm Kapton™ tape was investigated for use as a repeatable plasma mirror. Reflectivities of around 70% were measured at ≈2 × 10$^{21}$ Wm$^{−2}$ while maintaining the quality of the laser beam. The ability of the reflected pulse to drive a laser wakefield accelerator was investigated. Self-guided propagation of the reflected beam through a gas cell was observed and shown to depend on the plasma density. Particle-in-cell simulations showed that a wakefield would have been generated, driven solely by the energy within the central high intensity feature of the focal spot. The use of plasma mirrors at these elevated intensities would open up the possibilities of extremely compact configurations for laser wakefield accelerator stages.

Note: cc-by

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Plasma Acceleration and Laser Group (MPL)

Research Program(s):

1. 621 - Accelerator Research and Development (POF4-621) (POF4-621)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---