Terahertz electromagnetic radiation based on the interaction between a self-modulated electron beam and plasma wakefield

摘要

This particle-in-cell simulation study finds that the system of a long relativistic electron beam passing through an overdense plasma can produce high harmonic terahertz electromagnetic radiation. In this process, the electron beam is self-modulated to create a periodic electromagnetic structure which will resonate with the plasma wakefield and excite the electromagnetic instability in the nonlinear stage of the self-modulation. The study also finds that when the radiation is achieved, the self-modulated electron beam will be destroyed due to the self-consistent interaction among the radiation, the electron beam, and the plasma. Meanwhile, the radiation will gradually attenuate, which also coincides with the physical explanation of the radiation. Published by AIP Publishing.