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Effects of realistic laser intensity and phase distribution on high-charge laser wakefield acceleration

Yuhui Xia1, Zhenan Wang1, Ziyao Tang1, Jianghao Hu1, Qianyi Ma1, Yuekai Chen1, Letian Liu1, Zhiyan Yang1, Hui Zhang1 et al.

Chenxu Wang1, Haoyang Lan1,2, Di Wu1,2, Xiuhong Yang1,2, Yixing Geng1,2, Yanying Zhao1,2,*, Xueqing Yan1,2,3, and Xinlu Xu1,2,†

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • 2Beijing Laser Acceleration Innovation Center, Beijing 100871, China
  • 3Institute of Guangdong Laser Plasma Technology, Baiyun, Guangzhou, 510540, China

  • *Contact author: zhaoyanying@pku.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: xuxinlu@pku.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 051301 – Published 13 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/cgc6-75tf

Abstract

Laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) can produce relativistic electron beams and various secondary particles in centimeter-long plasmas, making it a valuable particle source with important applications in many disciplines. In this work, we examine the effects of nonideal transverse intensity and phase distribution of laser pulses on LWFA through both experimental measurements and particle-in-cell simulations. The complex transverse profile of the 75 TW laser pulses reduces the self-focused intensity in the plasma compared with a transversely Gaussian laser pulse. Furthermore, the sheath structure of the nonlinear plasma wake excited by realistic laser pulses is wider and more complicated than that of a Gaussian laser pulse. These features hinder electron injection. As the laser pulse propagates through the plasma, its intensity profile gradually becomes elliptical and drives a plasma wake with a sharp sheath near the azimuths of the major axis, leading to electron injection. When using a realistic laser profile in simulations, both the charge and energy of injected electrons closely match experimental results (∼200  pC of charge and ∼200  MeV peak energy), whereas the Gaussian laser simulations produce much higher charge (∼500  pC). Our findings reveal differences in injection dynamics between LWFA driven by nonideal laser pulses and those driven by Gaussian pulses and are useful for applications of LWFA that demand high-charge electron beams.

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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 051301– Published 13 May, 2026
  • Received 9 November 2025
  • Accepted 2 April 2026
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