UCLA

A resonant interaction of high brightness electron pulse trains with a plasma in the quasi nonlinear regime has been demonstrated. This interaction manifests itself in the form of strong guiding of the electron pulse train when the spacing between the bunches is appropriately tuned to the plasma wavelength such that each successive bunch is loaded primarily in the focusing wake of the bunches preceding it. By varying the plasma density and imaging the transverse profile of the electron pulse train immediately downstream of the plasma this resonant interaction becomes apparent. Further, by comparing results with a single long electron beam with a length equal to the total pulse train length, the interaction can be viewed as a suppression of various instabilities, hosing, self-modulation etc.