Recent progress and perspectives of laser–plasma accelerators

Recent progress in laser-plasma accelerators has matured a concept of particle acceleration as a possible next-generation particle accelerator promising ultrahigh accelerating gradients in a compact size. Four major concepts of laser-plasma accelerators—the plasma beat wave accelerator, the laser wakefield accelerator, the self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator, and the plasma wakefield accelerator—are reviewed on accelerator physics issues and experiments demonstrating the basic mechanisms of their concepts. As a perspective to the future practical application, a design of 5-TeV linear colliders based on the laser wakefield accelerator is discussed.

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Self-mode-transition from laser wakefield accelerator to plasma wakefield accelerator of laser-driven plasma-based electron acceleration

Physics of Plasmas ◽

10.1063/1.3522757 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 123104 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

K. H. Pae ◽

I. W. Choi ◽

J. Lee

Keyword(s):

Electron Acceleration ◽

Mode Transition ◽

Laser Wakefield ◽

Plasma Wakefield Accelerator ◽

Plasma Wakefield ◽

Wakefield Accelerator ◽

Laser Wakefield Accelerator

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Basic concepts in plasma accelerators

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2005.1722 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 364 (1840) ◽

pp. 559-575 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Robert Bingham

Keyword(s):

Particle Beam ◽

High Energy ◽

High Brightness ◽

Highly Nonlinear ◽

Laser Wakefield ◽

Plasma Accelerators ◽

Positron Beams ◽

Plasma Wakefield ◽

Wakefield Accelerator ◽

Laser Wakefield Accelerator

In this article, we present the underlying physics and the present status of high gradient and high-energy plasma accelerators. With the development of compact short pulse high-brightness lasers and electron and positron beams, new areas of studies for laser/particle beam–matter interactions is opening up. A number of methods are being pursued vigorously to achieve ultra-high-acceleration gradients. These include the plasma beat wave accelerator (PBWA) mechanism which uses conventional long pulse (∼100 ps) modest intensity lasers ( I ∼10 14 –10 16 W cm −2 ), the laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA) which uses the new breed of compact high-brightness lasers (<1 ps) and intensities >10 18 W cm −2 , self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator (SMLWFA) concept which combines elements of stimulated Raman forward scattering (SRFS) and electron acceleration by nonlinear plasma waves excited by relativistic electron and positron bunches the plasma wakefield accelerator. In the ultra-high intensity regime, laser/particle beam–plasma interactions are highly nonlinear and relativistic, leading to new phenomenon such as the plasma wakefield excitation for particle acceleration, relativistic self-focusing and guiding of laser beams, high-harmonic generation, acceleration of electrons, positrons, protons and photons. Fields greater than 1 GV cm −1 have been generated with monoenergetic particle beams accelerated to about 100 MeV in millimetre distances recorded. Plasma wakefields driven by both electron and positron beams at the Stanford linear accelerator centre (SLAC) facility have accelerated the tail of the beams.

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