Generation of attosecond electron bunches via high-gradient acceleration in periodic structures driven by a pulse-front-tilted laser
Phys. Rev. Applied 26, 044091 – Published 29 October, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/q1y7-w87y
Abstract
Direct laser acceleration leveraging transverse fields promises unparalleled gradients exceeding yet is fundamentally constrained by phase slippage, which limits interaction length and final energy gain. Here, we overcome this dephasing limitation by employing a pulse-front-tilted laser interacting with a plasma grating. This configuration ensures sustained phase matching, facilitating extended acceleration and stable near-field confinement. Uniquely, this structure functions as a phase-selective sieve that generates dense electron bunches with durations of hundreds of attoseconds. Particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that a 61 J laser pulse yields an 11 pC beam with energies surpassing 10 GeV at gradients of approximately . Derived for an idealized dephasingless regime, linear scaling laws predict that 1 kJ pulses can drive beams to 200 GeV. These findings present a promising pathway toward on-chip TeV-scale accelerators and attosecond sources, with potential applications for high-energy colliders, ultrafast electron imaging, and advanced light sources.