Research and Development of a High Power-Laser Driven Electron-Accelerator Suitable for Applications
Abstract
During Phase I of the HRS program, the team from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln(UNL) made use of the unique capabilities of their high-power laser system to perform an extensive study of the physical phenomena and control mechanisms involved in one such module: the conversion of laser light into high-brightness, nearly monoenergetic electron beams. During Phase II of the project, we continued work on the development of laser-driven accelerators. The work performed encompassed the generation and optimization of tunable, high-energy electron beams from underdense plasma, stabilization of the laser system to enable reliable operation of the accelerator, as well as detailed numerical, and theoretical work to predict and improve the performance of the electron accelerator. Stable electron beams in the energy range 100- 500 MeV were demonstrated and it was shown that the energy could be tuned in a straight forward way by changing laser and plasma parameters, without loss of beam quality. The high-energy electron beams produced were used for radiographic applications. The laser system has been upgraded to PW peak power by the addition of a new amplifier and compressor, and will enable studies on the generation of energetic proton beams.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA567138
Entities
People
- Bradley Shadwick
- Donald Umstadter
- Sudeep Banerjee
Organizations
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln