We present experimental results which show a laser polarization-dependent contribution to electron beam pointing jitter in laser wakefield accelerators (LWFAs). We develop a theoretical model for the polarization dependence in terms of the transverse dynamics of trapped electrons, resonantly driven by bubble centroid oscillations. The latter are generated by the carrier wave phase evolution at the self-steepened laser pulse front. In the model, the polarization-dependent jitter originates from shot-to-shot fluctuations of the laser carrier envelope phase (CEP). The model is verified by particle-in-cell simulations and suggests that CEP stabilization of the driving lasers might be necessary to achieve ultimate electron pointing stability in LWFAs.

• Received 13 June 2022
• Revised 22 February 2023
• Accepted 4 November 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.013056

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Published by the American Physical Society