Enhancements in laser-wakefield acceleration using cluster-gas targets

The photon yield obtained during the betatron motion of electrons in the ion cavity is proportional to the number of such oscillations (or wiggling). In the case of high repetition rate laser systems the pulse energy is very limited, thus the laser pulse has to be tightly focused in order to achieve high peak intensity in the focus. In this way narrow gas jets are used, which results in short acceleration length of electrons, thus in low number of betatron oscillations. In order to increase the number of x-ray photons a mixture of clusters and gas target can be used, where the space-charge of nano-meter size droplets forces the electrons to oscillate at much higher frequency leading to the emission of more photons. In this work we present the interaction of such cluster targets with linearly polarized laser pulses and describe some possible positive effects when circular polarization is used.