In this thesis electron generation is studied via laser plasma interaction known as laser wakefield acceleration in two regimes of weakly relativistic and highly relativistic laser intensity regimes. The plasma targets consisted of gas jets photonionized by rising edge of the laser pulse to densities as high as 10^20cm3. In the weakly relativistic regime, 210 mJ at 33 fs were focused to intensities of up to 310^18 Wcm2 on the gas targets of 2.4 mm length. In the highly relativistic regime, 3 J of energy compressed in 30 fs were delivered at intensity as high as 6.5 10^18 Wcm2 on targets of 2.4, 5, and 10 mm. Monoenergetic electrons in tens of MeV were observed in weakly relativistic regime, while electron energies as high as 300 MeV were observed in highly relativistic regime. Higher input laser intensity and prepulse levels were found to enhance electron production. Scaling of energy and stability of electron generation were also studied. / Photonics and Plasmas

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