Abstract

Direct-field laser acceleration of electrons by radially polarized laser pulses with a tunable total Gouy phase variation (TGPV) is investigated. It is shown, using test-particle simulations, that the Gouy phase plays a fundamental role in the synchronization process between the laser pulse and electrons. Simulations reveal that a smaller TGPV is advantageous and can lead to up to 25% increase in the theoretical energy limit, as well as up to 50% more energy yield, within the limits of the parameter space explored in the present work, as compared to the results predicted for a standard ${{\rm{TM}}_{01}}$ pulse. We also examine the possibility of using direct-field laser acceleration in a cascade configuration using pulses with a TGPV smaller than $2\pi$, pointing out the fundamental limitations of that approach.

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