  An electron injector concept for laser-plasma accelerator was developed in
ref [1] and [2] ; it relies on the use of counter-propagating ultrashort laser
pulses. In [2], the scheme is as follows: the pump laser pulse generates a
large amplitude laser wakefield (plasma wave). The counter-propagating
injection pulse interferes with the pump laser pulse to generate a beatwave
pattern. The ponderomotive force of the beatwave is able to inject plasma
electrons into the wakefield. We have studied this injection scheme using 1D
Particle in Cell (PIC) simulations. The simulations reveal phenomena and
important physical processes that were not taken into account in previous
models. In particular, at the collision of the laser pulses, most plasma
electrons are trapped in the beatwave pattern and cannot contribute to the
collective oscillation supporting the plasma wave. At this point, the fluid
approximation fails and the plasma wake is strongly inhibited. Consequently,
the injected charge is reduced by one order of magnitude compared to the
predictions from previous models.
