Plasma wakes driven by Compton scattering: nonlinear regime and particle acceleration

We investigate plasma wake generation via Compton scattering from photon bursts in the Thomson regime, a non-ponderomotive process relevant when the photon wavelength is shorter than the interparticle distance. In this regime, electrons can reach relativistic velocities. We extend linear theory to the nonlinear regime, showing that plasma waves can reach the wave-breaking limit. Perfectly collimated drivers produce wakes propagating at the speed of light, allowing electron phase-locking (limited by driver depletion). Non-collimated drivers induce subluminal phase velocities, limiting acceleration via dephasing. Two-dimensional simulations reveal unique transverse fields compared with laser wakefields, with a DC magnetic field leading to consistent focusing. The work considers observational prospects in laboratory and astrophysical scenarios such as around highly luminous compact objects (e.g. pulsars, gamma-ray bursts) interacting with tenuous interstellar or intergalactic plasmas, where conditions favour Compton-dominated wakefield acceleration.