Guided propagation of short intense laser pulses and electron acceleration

The dynamics of a guided laser pulse propagation and wakefield generation in plasma channels, ionizing gases and gas filled capillaries is investigated. The efficient generation of a regular wakefield over long distances suitable for laser wakefield accelerators is demonstrated. The different schemes of electron bunch injection and compression to provide monoenergetic electron acceleration to high energies are analysed. A possibility of effective multistage acceleration of short electron bunches with low emittance and energy spread is demonstrated. The analytical results are confirmed by the results of numerical modelling