Multi-layer structure formation of relativistic electron beams in plasmas

A two-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulation model is proposed to study the density evolution and collective stopping of electron beams in background plasmas. We show here the formation of the multi-layer structure of the relativistic electron beam in the plasma due to the different betatron frequency from the beam front to the beam tail. Meanwhile, the nonuniformity of the longitudinal wakefield is the essential reason for the multi-layer structure formation in beam phase space. The influences of beam parameters (beam radius and transverse density profile) on the formation of the multi-layer structure and collective stopping in background plasmas are also considered.