Workshop Working Groups
Laser Plasma Acceleration
- Plasma Acceleration Subgroup:
Group-Leader: Eric Esarey, LBNL (EHEsarey@lbl.gov)
Co-Group-Leader: Sergey Tochitsky, UCLA (sergei12@ucla.edu)
This group will focus on the
physics issues relevant to the design and modeling of
a laser-driven, plasma-based accelerator stage for the
production of high-energy (1 GeV or higher), high-quality
electron bunches. After reviewing the current status
of the various methods for plasma wave generation, guiding
of laser beams (in collaboration with the Laser-Plasma
Acceleration: Plasma Guiding Sub-group), and electron
injection, this WG will focus on one or more promising
designs that are most likely to yield a single, 1 GeV
plasma accelerator stage. Such a laser-plasma accelerator
stage requires a method for generating large amplitude
plasma waves using laser pulses, a method for guiding
laser pulses over a sufficiently long distance, and
a method for injecting electrons into the plasma wave
for acceleration to high energy. Methods for plasma
wave generation include the laser wakefield accelerator
in the standard and self-modulated regimes, the plasma
beat-wave accelerator, and highly nonlinear regimes
involving one or more drive pulses. Methods for guiding
laser pulses include preformed density channels and
relativistic self-focusing, and these topics will be
discussed jointly with the Subgroup on Plasma Guiding.
Methods for electron injection include external injection
of ultra-short electron bunches, transverse and longitudinal
wave breaking, and laser injection using one or more
additional pulses. Electron injection methods will be
discussed jointly with the working Group on Beam Generation,
Monitoring, and Control. Joint sessions with other Working
Groups, such as with Computational Accelerator Physics,
are also envisioned.
Resent research results on the
above topics, theoretical, numerical, and/or experimental,
are appropriate for presentation. These include results
on laser pulse propagation and evolution, laser-plasma
instabilities, accelerated electron spectra, etc. Topics
for discussion include issues affecting the design,
modeling and experimental demonstration of a 1 GeV stage,
including limitations arising from pump depletion, electron
dephasing, beam loading, and coupling efficiency. |