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Modeling betatron radiation using particle-in-cell codes for plasma wakefield accelerator diagnostics

M. Yadav1,2,3,*, C. Hansel4, B. Naranjo1, G. Andonian1, P. Manwani1, Ö. Apsimon5, C. P. Welsch2,3, and J. Rosenzweig1

  • *Contact author: yadavmonika@g.ucla.edu
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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 28, 072801 – Published 7 July, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/ykrl-45h8

Abstract

The analysis of plasma wakefield acceleration experimental measurements, particularly in the characterization of photons emitted through the betatron radiation mechanism, requires the development of accurate numerical models. These computational models are crucial for supporting modern instrumentation designed to measure the single-shot, double-differential angular-energy radiation spectra resulting from interactions between beams and plasmas. Motivated by the needs of such applications, this paper presents detailed numerical models of betatron radiation generated in beam-plasma acceleration experiments. These models are based on the integration of the Liénard-Wiechert (LW) potentials, applied to computed particle trajectories. The particle trajectories are generated using three distinct methods: first, by tracking particles through idealized fields in the blowout regime of PWFA; second, by obtaining trajectories using the fast quasistatic particle-in-cell (PIC) code quickpic; and third, obtaining trajectories from the fully self-consistent PIC code osiris. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of these models, the paper includes various benchmark tests using analytical expressions, as well as employing the PIC code epoch, which takes an alternative approach by using a Monte Carlo quantum electrodynamics (QED)-based radiation model. Additionally, the paper presents simulations of the expected experimental betatron radiation spectra, taking into account parameters relevant to PWFA and plasma photocathode experiments at the SLAC FACET-II facility.

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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 28, 072801– Published 7 July, 2025
  • Received 22 August 2024
  • Accepted 23 May 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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