Electron acceleration in relativistic plasma waves generated by a single frequency short-pulse laser

Experimental evidence for the acceleration of electrons in a relativistic plasma wave generated by Raman forward scattering (SRS-F) of a single-frequency short pulse laser are presented. A 1.053 /spl mu/m, 600 fsec, 5 TW laser was focused into a gas jet with a peak intensity of 8/spl times/10/sup 17/ W/cm/sup 2/. At a plasma density of 2/spl times/10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/ 2 MeV electrons were detected and their appearance was correlated with the anti-Stokes laser sideband generated by SRS-F. The results are in good agreement with 2-D PIC simulations. The use of short pulse lasers for making ultrahigh gradient accelerators is explored.