In this paper, the direct observation of wake‐field self‐focusing of an electron beam in plasma is reported. The dynamics of beam self‐pinching and the fast collisionless evolution of a Bennett‐like, near‐equilibrium profile are examined theoretically and computationally. The experimental results are compared to predictions of the analysis and discussed in the context of application to the plasma lens and the plasma wake‐field accelerator.

1.
P.
Chen
,
J. M.
Dawson
,
R. W.
Huff
, and
T.
Katsouleas
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
54
,
693
(
1985
).
2.
T.
Katsouleas
,
Phys. Rev. A
33
,
2056
(
1986
).
3.
R. D.
Ruth
,
A.
Chao
,
P. L.
Morton
, and
P. B.
Wilson
,
Part. Accel.
17
,
171
(
1985
).
4.
R.
Keinigs
and
M.
Jones
,
Phys. Fluids
30
,
252
(
1987
).
5.
P.
Chen
,
Part. Accel.
20
,
171
(
1985
).
6.
J. B.
Rosenzweig
and
P.
Chen
,
Phys. Rev. D
39
,
2039
(
1989
).
7.
J. B.
Rosenzweig
,
B.
Cole
,
D. B.
Cline
, and
D. J.
Larson
,
Part. Accel.
24
,
11
(
1988
).
8.
P.
Chen
,
S.
Rajagoplan
and
J. B.
Rosenzweig
,
Phys. Rev. D
40
,
923
(
1989
).
9.
J. J. Su, T. Katsouleas, J. Dawson, and R. Fedele, submitted to Phys. Rev. A.
10.
J. B.
Rosenzweig
,
D. B.
Cline
,
B.
Cole
,
H.
Figueroa
,
W.
Gai
,
R.
Konecny
,
J.
Norem
,
P.
Schoessow
, and
J.
Simpson
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
61
,
98
(
1988
).
11.
J. B.
Rosenzweig
,
P.
Schoessow
,
B.
Cole
,
W.
Gai
,
R.
Konecny
,
J.
Norem
, and
J.
Simpson
,
Phys. Rev. A
39
,
1586
(
1989
).
12.
J. B.
Rosenzweig
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
58
,
555
(
1987
);
J. B.
Rosenzweig
,
Phys. Rev. A
38
,
3634
(
1988
).
13.
T.
Katsouleas
and
W. B.
Mori
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
61
,
90
(
1988
).
14.
W. H.
Bennett
,
Phys. Rev.
45
,
890
(
1934
);
W. H.
Bennett
,
98
,
1584
(
1955
).,
Phys. Rev.
15.
A.
Chao
,
D.
Johnson
,
S.
Peggs
,
J.
Peterson
,
C.
Saltmarsh
,
L.
Sachinger
,
R.
Meller
,
R.
Siemann
,
R.
Talman
,
D.
Edwards
,
D.
Finley
,
R.
Gerig
,
N.
Gelfand
,
M.
Harrison
,
R.
Johnson
,
N.
Merminga
, and
M.
Syphers
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
61
,
2752
(
1988
).
16.
E. P.
Lee
,
Phys. Fluids
19
,
60
(
1976
).
17.
R. J. Noble, in Proceedings of the 1989 Particle Accelerator Conference (IEEE, New York, 1989), p. 1067.
18.
J. J.
Su
,
T.
Katsouleas
,
J.
Dawson
,
P.
Chen
,
M.
Jones
, and
R.
Keinigs
,
IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
PS‐15
,
192
(
1987
).
19.
H.
Figueroa
,
W.
Gai
,
R.
Konecny
,
J.
Norem
,
P.
Schoessow
, and
J.
Simpson
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
60
,
2144
(
1988
).
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.