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In a recent experiment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, plasma electrons in trajectories of intense laser light pulses were almost instantly accelerated near the speed of light.
Physics professor Donald Umstadter, who led the research, said the new application could rightly be called an "optical rocket" because of the sheer amount of force that light has exerted into the experience. The electrons have been subjected to a force almost a trillion times greater than that felt by an astronaut launched into space.
"This unique new application of intense light can improve the performance of compact electron accelerators," he said. "But the new and more general scientific aspect of our results is that the application of the force of light has resulted in the direct acceleration of the material."
The optical rocket is the latest example of how the forces exerted by light can be used as tools, said Umstadter.
Light of normal intensity exerts a tiny force each time it reflects, diffuses or is absorbed. A proposed application of this force is a "light sail" that could be used to propel a spacecraft. However, since the strength of the light is extremely low in this case, it should be exercised continuously for years for the spacecraft to reach a high speed.
Another type of force appears when the light has a gradient of intensity. An application of this light force is an "optical clamp" used to manipulate microscopic objects. Again, the force is extremely weak.
In the Nebraska experiment, the laser pulses were concentrated in the plasma. When the plasma electrons were expelled from the light pulses by their gradient forces, the plasma waves were driven in the wake of the pulses and the electrons captured the wake field waves, which accelerated the electrons. The new application of intense light controls the initial phase of the wake field acceleration and improves the performance of a new generation of compact electron accelerators, which should pave the way for a series of Unattractive applications size conventional accelerators.
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Material provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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