Using transverse colliding-pulse injection to obtain electron beams with small emittance in a laser-plasma accelerator

Electron injection in a laser plasma wakefield accelerator by transverse colliding pulses is studied using two dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations. It is demonstrated that beams with extremely small transverse emittance can be obtained, injected by the transverse standing wave created by the colliding pulses. Ionization of neutral gas is used to increase the final injection charge but keep the emittance small.