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Arbitrary-velocity laser pulses in plasma waveguides

J. P. Palastro1,*, K. G. Miller1,†, M. R. Edwards2, A. L. Elliott1, L. S. Mack1, D. Singh2, and A. G. R. Thomas3

  • 1Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
  • 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
  • 3Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA

  • *Contact author: jpal@lle.rochester.edu
  • †Contact author: kmill@lle.rochester.edu
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 023249 – Published 11 June, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/vysz-9pkl

Abstract

Space-time structured laser pulses feature an intensity peak that can travel at an arbitrary velocity while maintaining a near-constant profile. These pulses can propagate in uniform media, where their frequencies are correlated with continuous transverse wave vectors, or in structured media, such as a waveguide, where their frequencies are correlated with discrete mode numbers. Here, we demonstrate the formation and propagation of arbitrary-velocity laser pulses in a plasma waveguide where the intensity can be orders of magnitude higher than in a solid-state waveguide. The flexibility to control the velocity of the peak intensity in a plasma waveguide enables new configurations for plasma-based sources of radiation and energetic particles, including THz generation, laser wakefield acceleration, and direct laser acceleration.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 023249– Published 11 June, 2025
  • Received 19 March 2025
  • Accepted 30 May 2025
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