Frequency chirp and pulse shape effects in self-modulated laser wakefield accelerators

The effect of asymmetric laser pulses on plasma wave excitation in a self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator is examined. Laser pulse shape and frequency chirp asymmetries, controlled experimentally in the laser system through a grating pair compressor, are shown to strongly enhance measured electron yields for certain asymmetries. It is shown analytically that a positive (negative) frequency chirp enhances (suppresses) the growth rate of the Raman forward scattering and near-forward Raman sidescatter instabilities, but is of minimal importance for the experimental parameters. Temporal laser pulse shapes with fast rise times (less than or similar to plasma period) are shown to generate larger wakes (compared to slow rise time pulses) which seed the growth of the plasma wave, resulting in enhanced electron yield. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.