Pulsed power technology for laser-accelerated particle experiments – A survey of developments within the Dresden laser acceleration program

Since the mid-1950s, pulsed (iron-free) high-field magnets have become a common, versatile research tool. Applications in solid state physics have promoted the development of sophisticated magnets that nowadays can achieve fields above 90 T repeatedly.

We report here another area of application for pulsed power magnet technology; namely the use of pulsed magnets as effective devices for particle beam optics with application in the fields of radiation and accelerator physics as well as medical physics: Pulsed power solenoids for focusing of laser-accelerated particle beams might allow for the use of these new radiation qualities in medical radiation therapy or could function as a crucial part of a compact, laser-based ion source. The development of pulsed high field multipoles could permit highly compact beam guidance systems.

The presentation gives a survey of pulsed power developments, including various pulsed high field magnets as well as pulsed power sources. The scalability to cancer therapy relevant application will be critically discussed.