Demonstration of electron beam self-focusing in plasma wake fields

Abstract

In this paper, the direct observation of wake-field self-focusing of an electron beam in plasma is reported. The dynamics of beam self-pinching and the fast collisionless evolution of a Bennett-like, near-equilibrium profile are examined theoretically and computationally. The experimental results are compared to predictions of the analysis and discussed in the context of application to the plasma lens and the plasma wake-field accelerator.