Proof-of-principle experiment of the vacuum beat wave accelerator

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53063· OSTI ID:587047

Ting, A ^[1]; Hafizi, B ^[2]; Burris, R; Fischer, R ^[1]; Moore, C I ^[3]; Krushelnick, K ^[4]; Esarey, E; Sprangle, P ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia (United States) 20375
2. Icarus Research, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland (United States); Omega-P, Inc., New Haven, Connecticut (United States) 065520
3. NRL/NRC Post Doctoral Fellow (United States)
4. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (United States) 14853

The vacuum beat wave accelerator (VBWA) is discussed and design parameters for proof-of-principle experiment are presented. The VBWA utilizes two focused laser beams of differing wavelengths to generate a beat wave that can impart a net acceleration to charged particles. Theory and simulations show that the single-stage energy gain of the VBWA is limited by diffraction of the laser beams, particle slippage in phase and velocity, and radial walk-off. In the simulations the particles are synchronous with the beat wave for a short interval of time and the energy gain has the nature of an impulse delivered near the focal region. Simulations also show that the problem of radial walk-off may be ameliorated by using a converging beam of particles. For terawatt-level laser beams, with wavelengths 1 {mu}m and 0.5 {mu}m, and a 4.5 MeV finite-emittance electron beam the energy can be increased to {approximately}12.5MeV in a non-synchronous interaction over a distance of under 4 mm, with a peak acceleration gradient {gt}15GeV/m and an estimated trapping fraction of {minus}1{percent}. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 587047
• Report Number(s): CONF-9610281--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 398; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BEAM DYNAMICS
BEAT WAVE ACCELERATORS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTRON BEAMS
GAIN
LASER RADIATION
PHASE SPACE
TERAWATT POWER RANGE