Stability of the Modulator in a Plasma-Modulated Plasma Accelerator

(2023)

Authors:

Johannes J van de Wetering, Simon M Hooker, Roman Walczak

Modulational instability in large-amplitude linear laser wakefields

(2023)

Authors:

Alexander von Boetticher, Roman Walczak, Simon Hooker

Modulational instability in large-amplitude linear laser wakefields

Physical Review E American Physical Society 107 (2023) L023201

Authors:

Alexander von Boetticher, Roman Walczak, Simon Hooker

Abstract:

We investigate the growth of ion density perturbations in large-amplitude linear laser wakefields via two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Growth rates and wave numbers are found to be consistent with a longitudinal strong-field modulational instability (SFMI). We examine the transverse dependence of the instability for a Gaussian wakefield envelope and show that growth rates and wavenumbers can be maximised off-axis. On-axis growth rates are found to decrease with increasing ion mass or electron temperature. These results are in close agreement with the dispersion relation of a Langmuir wave with energy density that is large compared to the plasma thermal energy density. The implications for wakefield accelerators, in particular multi-pulse schemes, are discussed.

Dual stage approach to laser-driven helical coil proton acceleration

New Journal of Physics IOP Publishing 25:1 (2023) 013006-013006

Authors:

S Ferguson, P Martin, H Ahmed, E Aktan, M Alanazi, M Cerchez, D Doria, JS Green, B Greenwood, B Odlozilik, O Willi, M Borghesi, S Kar

Abstract:

Abstract Helical coil accelerators are a recent development in laser-driven ion production, acting on the intrinsically wide divergence and broadband energy spectrum of laser-accelerated protons to deliver ultra-low divergence and quasi-monoenergetic beams. The modularity of helical coil accelerators also provides the attractive prospective of multi-staging. Here we show, on a proof-of-principle basis, a two-stage configuration which allows optical tuning of the energy of the selected proton beamlet. Experimental data, corroborated by particle tracing simulations, highlights the importance of controlling precisely the beam injection. Efficient post-acceleration of the protons with an energy gain up to ∼16 MeV (∼8 MeV per stage, at an average rate of ∼1 GeV m−1) was achieved at an optimal time delay, which allows synchronisation of the selected protons with the accelerating longitudinal electric fields to be maintained through both stages.

European Strategy for Particle Physics -- Accelerator R&D Roadmap

(2022)

Authors:

C Adolphsen, D Angal-Kalinin, T Arndt, M Arnold, R Assmann, B Auchmann, K Aulenbacher, A Ballarino, B Baudouy, P Baudrenghien, M Benedikt, S Bentvelsen, A Blondel, A Bogacz, F Bossi, L Bottura, S Bousson, O Brüning, R Brinkmann, M Bruker, O Brunner, PN Burrows, G Burt, S Calatroni, K Cassou, A Castilla, N Catalan-Lasheras, E Cenni, A Chancé, N Colino, S Corde, L Corner, B Cros, A Cross, JP Delahaye, G Devanz, A-I Etienvre, P Evtushenko, A Faus-Golfe, P Fazilleau, M Ferrario, A Gallo, L García-Tabarés, C Geddes, F Gerigk, F Gianotti, S Gilardoni, A Grudiev, E Gschwendtner, G Hoffstaetter, M Hogan, S Hooker, A Hutton, R Ischebeck, K Jakobs, P Janot, E Jensen, J Kühn, W Kaabi, D Kayran, M Klein, J Knobloch, M Koratzinos, B Kuske, M Lamont, A Latina, P Lebrun, W Leemans, D Li, K Long, D Longuevergne, R Losito, W Lu, D Lucchesi, O Lundh, E Métral, F Marhauser, S Michizono, B Militsyn, J Mnich, E Montesinos, N Mounet, P Muggli, P Musumeci, S Nagaitsev, T Nakada, A Neumann, D Newbold, P Nghiem, M Noe, K Oide, J Osterhoff, M Palmer, N Pastrone, N Pietralla, S Prestemon, E Previtali, T Proslier, L Quettier, T Raubenheimer, B Rimmer, L Rivkin, E Rochepault, C Rogers, G Rosaz, T Roser, L Rossi, R Ruber, D Schulte, M Seidel, C Senatore, B Shepherd, J Shi, N Shipman, A Specka, S Stapnes, A Stocchi, D Stratakis, I Syratchev, O Tanaka, S Tantawi, C Tennant, E Tsesmelis, C Vaccarezza, A-M Valente, P Védrine, J Vieira, N Vinokurov, H Weise, M Wenskat, P Williams, M Wing, A Yamamoto, Y Yamamoto, K Yokoya, F Zimmermann