• R. Giacone, D.L. Bruhwiler, J.R. Cary, D.A. Dimitrov, P. Messmer
  Tech-X, Boulder, Colorado
• E. Esarey, C.G.R. Geddes, W. Leemans
  LBNL, Berkeley, California

Optical guiding of the laser pulse in a laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA) via plasma channels can greatly increase the interaction length and, hence, the maximun energy of trapped electrons.* Energy efficient coupling of laser pulses from vacuum into plasma channels is very important for optimal LWFA performance. We present 2D particle-in-cell simulations of this problem using the VORPAL code.** Some of the mechanisms considered are enhanced leakage of laser energy transversely through the channel walls, enhanced refraction due to tunneling ionization of neutral gas on the periphery of the gas jet, ionization of neutral gas by transverse wings of the laser pulse and effect of the pulse being off axis of the channel. Using power spectral diagnostics,*** we are able to differentiate between pump depletion and leakage from the channel. The results from our simulations show that for short (≈λ_p) plasma ramp, very little leakage and pump depletion is seen. For narrow channel walls and long ramps, leakage increases significantly.

*C. G. R. Gedes et al., Nature 431 (2004), p. 538. **C. Nieter and J. R. Cary, J. Comp. Phys. 196 (2004), p. 448.***D. A. Dimitrov et al., Proc. Advanced Accel. Concepts Workshop (2004).

• P. Messmer, D.L. Bruhwiler, D.A. Dimitrov, P. Stoltz
  Tech-X, Boulder, Colorado
• E. Esarey, C.G.R. Geddes, W. Leemans
  LBNL, Berkeley, California

Capillary channels of cm-length and at plasma density low compared to gas jets are promising setups for low noise laser wakefield acceleration. Computationally, however, the large discrepancy of the length scales of the plasma and the laser are a big challenge. Methods are therefore sought that relax the need to concurrently resolve both length scales. Moving windows allow to reduce the size of the computational box to a few plasma wave-lengths, which can already be a big gain compared to the full length of the capillary. On the other hand, average methods allow to relax the constraint to resolve the laser wavelength. These methods split the laser induced current into a fast varying part and a slowly varying envelope. The average over the fast timescales is performed in a semi analytic way, leaving the evolution of the envelope to be modeled. Such an envelope model is currently being incorporated into the VORPAL code.* Preliminary results show considerable time savings compared to fully resolved simulations. The status of this ongoing work will be presented.

*C. Nieter and J. R. Cary, J. Comp. Phys. 196 (2004), p. 448.

• D.A. Dimitrov, D.L. Bruhwiler, J.R. Cary, P. Messmer, P. Stoltz
  Tech-X, Boulder, Colorado
• D.W. Feldman, P.G. O'Shea
  IREAP, College Park, Maryland
• K. Jensen
  NRL, Washington, DC

Codes for simulating photocathode electron guns invariably assume the emission of an idealized electron distribution from the cathode, regardless of the particular particle emission model that is implemented. The output of such simulations, a relatively clean and smooth distribution with very little variation as a function of the azimuthal angle, is inconsistent with the highly irregular and asymmetric electron bunches seen in experimental diagnostics. To address this problem, we have implemented a recently proposed theoretical model* that takes into account detailed solid-state physics of photocathode materials in the VORPAL particle-in-cell code.** Initial results from 3D simulations with this model and future research directions will be presented and discussed.

*K.L. Jensen, D.W. Feldman, M. Virgo, and P.G. O'Shea, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams, 6:083501, 2003. **C. Nieter and J.R. Cary, J. Comp. Phys. 196 (2004), p. 448.