Progress in Hybrid Plasma Wakefield Acceleration


Progress in Hybrid Plasma Wakefield Acceleration

Hidding, B.; Assmann, R.; Bussmann, M.; Campbell, D.; Chang, Y.-Y.; Corde, S.; Couperus Cabadağ, J. P.; Debus, A.; Döpp, A.; Gilljohann, M.; Götzfried, J.; Moritz Foerster, F.; Haberstroh, F.; Habib, F.; Heinemann, T.; Hollatz, D.; Irman, A.; Kaluza, M.; Karsch, S.; Kononenko, O.; Knetsch, A.; Kurz, T.; Kuschel, S.; Köhler, A.; Martinez De La Ossa, A.; Nutter, A.; Pausch, R.; Raj, G.; Schramm, U.; Schöbel, S.; Seidel, A.; Steiniger, K.; Ufer, P.; Yeung, M.; Zarini, O.; Zepf, M.

Plasma wakefield accelerators can be driven either by intense laser pulses (LWFA) or by intense particle beams (PWFA). A third approach that combines the complementary advantages of both types of plasma wakefield accelerator has been established with increasing success over the last decade and is called hybrid LWFA→PWFA. Essentially, a compact LWFA is exploited to produce an energetic, high-current electron beam as a driver for a subsequent PWFA stage, which, in turn, is exploited for phase-constant, inherently laser-synchronized, quasi-static acceleration over extended acceleration lengths. The sum is greater than its parts: the approach not only provides a compact, cost-effective alternative to linac-driven PWFA for exploitation of PWFA and its advantages for acceleration and high-brightness beam generation, but extends the parameter range accessible for PWFA and, through the added benefit of co-location of inherently synchronized laser pulses, enables high-precision pump/probing, injection, seeding and unique experimental constellations, e.g., for beam coordination and collision experiments. We report on the accelerating progress of the approach achieved in a series of collaborative experiments and discuss future prospects and potential impact.

Keywords: plasma wakefield acceleration; LWFA; PWFA; compact particle acceleration; radiation sources

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Publ.-Id: 36901