Metallic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can provide ultra-dense, homogeneous plasma capable of sustaining resonant plasma waves–known as plasmons–with ultra-high field amplitudes. These waves can be efficiently driven by either high-intensity laser pulses or high-density relativistic charged particle beams. In this study, we use numerical simulations to propose that electrons and positrons can be accelerated in wakefields generated by the leaky electromagnetic field of surface plasmons. These plasmons are excited when a high-intensity optical laser pulse propagates paraxially through a cylindrical vacuum channel structured within a CNT forest. The wakefield is stably sustained by a non-evanescent longitudinal field with TV m−1-level amplitudes. This mechanism differs significantly from the plasma wakefield generation in uniform gaseous plasmas. Travelling at the speed of light in a vacuum, with phase-matched focusing fields, the wakefield acceleration is highly efficient for both electron and positron beams. We also examine two potential electron injection mechanisms: edge injection and self-injection. Both mechanisms are feasible with current laser facilities, paving the way for experimental realisation. Beyond presenting a novel method toward ultra-compact, high-energy solid-state plasma particle accelerators with ultra-high acceleration gradients, this work also expands the potential of high-energy plasmonics.
This paper explores a novel method for accelerating electrons and positrons using the electromagnetic fields generated by surface plasmons in carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The high-intensity laser pulse propagating through a structured CNT forest can excite these plasmons, which then create a stable, high-amplitude wakefield capable of efficiently accelerating both electron and positron beams.