Experimental characterization of discharge plasma dynamics in a square capillary for prospective applications in laser wakefield acceleration
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Research on plasma generated by electrical discharge in gas-filled capillaries plays an important role in advancing laser wakefield accelerators. We present a comprehensive study of the temporal and spatial distribution of plasma density within a short, 1 cm long, square-shaped capillary filled with hydrogen gas. Two transverse capillary sizes, 500 μm and 300 μm, were investigated achieving peak plasma densities of 0.9 × 1018 cm−3 and 2.5 × 1018 cm−3, respectively, at the capillary center. In addition, we explore how these distributions depend on discharge parameters, specifically discharge current and gas flow through the capillary. Plasma density was determined by analyzing the Stark broadening of the hydrogen Balmer-alpha line. The results obtained were compared with the theoretical models and simulations. The comparison between the model predictions and the experimental data at the transient ionization stage of the discharge reveals a discrepancy of a factor of ∼1.3–2.1, depending on the capillary size, which is thoroughly discussed.
Source: Physics of Plasmas
DOI: 10.1063/5.0260100
Authors: K. O. Kruchinin, A. Mondal, P. V. Sasorov, P. Zimmermann, S. Niekrasz, A. Yu. Molodozhentsev
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409585390