Numerical study of electron acceleration in structured CNT targets via self-injection in a wakefield bubble driven by an 800 nm laser

Numerical study of electron acceleration in structured CNT targets via self-injection in a wakefield bubble driven by an 800 nm laser | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Numerical study of electron acceleration in structured CNT targets via self-injection in a wakefield bubble driven by an 800 nm laser Cristian Bontoiu, Alexandre Bonatto, Öznur Apsimon, Laura Bandiera, and 15 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6973671/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 25 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) may achieve TeV/m gradients using high-density solid-state plasmas as accelerating media. However, the application of bulk solid materials requires attosecond laser pulses, such as X-ray lasers, to drive wakefields at these high densities. Additionally, the short wakefield wavelengths associated with solid-state plasmas greatly limit the accelerating length. An alternative approach employs 2D carbon-based nanomaterials, like graphene or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), configured into structured targets. These nanostructures are designed with voids or low-density regions to effectively reduce the overall plasma density. This reduction enables the use of longer-wavelength lasers and also extends the plasma wavelength and the acceleration length. In this study, we present, to our knowledge, the first numerical demonstration of electron acceleration via self-injection into a wakefield bubble driven by an infrared laser pulse in structured CNT targets, similar to the behavior observed in gaseous plasmas for LWFA in the nonlinear (or bubble) regime. Using the PIConGPU code, bundles of CNTs are modeled in a 3D geometry as 25 nm-thick carbon tubes with an initial density of 1022 cm−3. The carbon plasma is ionized by a three-cycle, 800 nm wavelength laser pulse with a peak intensity of 1021W cm−2, achieving an effective plasma density of 1020 cm−3. The same laser also drives the wakefield bubble, responsible for the electron self-injection and acceleration. Simulation results indicate that fs-long electron bunches with hundreds of pC charge can be self-injected and accelerated at gradients exceeding 1 TeV/m. Both charge and accelerating gradient figures are unprecedented when compared with LWFA in gaseous plasma. Physical sciences/Physics/Plasma physics Physical sciences/Physics/Plasma physics/Plasma based accelerators Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 25 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 04 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 01 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 31 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 22 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 26 Jun, 2025 Editor invited by journal 26 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 25 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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However, the application of bulk solid materials requires attosecond laser pulses, such as X-ray lasers, to drive\nwakefields at these high densities. Additionally, the short wakefield wavelengths associated with solid-state plasmas greatly limit the accelerating length. An alternative approach employs 2D carbon-based nanomaterials, like graphene or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), configured into structured targets. These nanostructures are designed with voids or low-density regions to effectively reduce the overall plasma density. This reduction enables the use of longer-wavelength lasers and also extends the plasma wavelength and the acceleration length. In this study, we present, to our knowledge, the first numerical demonstration of electron acceleration via self-injection into a wakefield bubble driven by an infrared laser pulse in structured CNT targets, similar to the behavior observed in gaseous plasmas for LWFA in the nonlinear (or bubble) regime. Using the PIConGPU code, bundles of CNTs are modeled in a 3D geometry as 25 nm-thick carbon tubes with an initial density of 1022 cm−3. The carbon plasma is ionized by a three-cycle, 800 nm wavelength laser pulse with a peak intensity of 1021W cm−2, achieving an effective plasma density of 1020 cm−3. The same laser also drives the wakefield bubble, responsible for the electron self-injection and acceleration. Simulation results indicate that fs-long electron bunches with hundreds of pC charge can be self-injected and accelerated at gradients exceeding 1 TeV/m. 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