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Spatiospectral conditioning of laser-plasma-accelerated electron beams using electromagnetic solenoids

M. V. Ambat1,*, H. G. Rinderknecht1, J. Peebles1, D. Fess1, R. McEvoy1, C. D. Arrowsmith1, G. Bruhaug2, I. A. LaBelle1, M. A. VanDusen-Gross1 et al.

D. H. Froula1 and J. L. Shaw1,†

  • *Contact author: mvambat@lanl.gov
  • †Contact author: jshaw05@lle.rochester.edu
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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 104602 – Published 28 October, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/2dby-29s7

Abstract

Microcoulomb-class electron beams from laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs) driven by kilojoule-class laser systems can enable high-flux electron radiography and copious secondary particle production. However, electron beam spatial properties such as transverse beam nonuniformity and large spatial scale at application sites can limit their utility. In this work, we demonstrate spatial conditioning of microcoulomb-class electron beams using electromagnetic solenoids as focusing optics. By applying ∼10  T solenoidal fields, we focused the electron beam onto a detection plane and measured a fluence enhancement factor of 6 over unconditioned electron beams. The chromatic focusing of the solenoids improved the resolution of electron beam radiographs produced using the focused electron beam. We also demonstrate a method using angled electromagnetic solenoids to simultaneously condition LPA electron beam spatial and spectral properties. These features are attractive for applications because they enable the spatial separation of a narrow-energy-spread population of the electron beam from the bulk of the electron beam.

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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 104602– Published 28 October, 2026
  • Received 8 April 2026
  • Accepted 28 September 2026
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