Magnetizing nonlinear plasma wakefields for positron acceleration

Abstract

It is known that only a narrow plasma wakefield sliver in the electron-beam-driven blowout regime suits positron acceleration. Using 3D simulations, we show that matching the cyclotron frequency $ω_{c}$ with the plasma frequency $ω_{p}$ forms a stable electron column on axis, expanding the suitable phase space for positron acceleration sizably. For a plasma density $n_p = 10^{16}\text{ cm}^{-3}$ in a 35 T field, the interval expands 4.3 times, and a witness positron beam gains 100--150 MeV over 6 cm ($1.6$--$2.5$~GeV/m) with a 92\% capture rate.