Laser electron acceleration: Role of an additional long-wavelength electromagnetic wave and a magnetic field

Abstract

The combined role of an additional long-wavelength electromagnetic wave and a magnetic field on laser electron acceleration is examined. The electron dynamics and the energy gain in the presence of two electromagnetic waves of significantly different wavelengths are studied by using numerical calculations. The additional effect of an imposed magnetic field is also observed. According to this study, a short electromagnetic wave can accelerate the trapped electron to a high energy, and the external magnetic field bends the electron out of the laser path. Hence, the electron leaves the interaction region, so it does not lose energy anymore. As a result, in the proposed mechanism, the electron can gain a considerably high energy due to the effect of a magnetic field.