Several features of vacuum laser acceleration are reviewed, analyzed, and discussed, including electron acceleration by two crossed laser beams and acceleration by a higher-order Gaussian beam. In addition, the vacuum beat wave accelerator (VBWA) concept is proposed and analyzed. It is shown that acceleration by two crossed beams is correctly described by the Lawson-Woodward (LW) theorem, i.e., no net energy gain results for a relativistic electron interacting with the laser fields over an infinite interaction distance. Finite net energy gains can be obtained by placing optical components near the laser focus to limit the interaction region. The specific case of a higher-order Gaussian beam reflected by a mirror placed near focus is analyzed in detail. It is shown that the damage threshold of the mirror is severely limiting, i.e., substantial energy gains require very high electron injection energies. The VBWA, which uses two copropagating laser beams of different frequencies, relies on nonlinear ponderomotive forces, thus violating the assumptions of the LW theorem. Single-particle simulations confirm that substantial energy gains are possible and that optical components are not needed near the focal region.

• Received 9 May 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.52.5443