Laser Wakefield Accelerators towards table-top accelerators and bright synchrotron sources

ORAL

Abstract

Laser wakefield accelerators (LWFA) have the potential to lead a new generation of compact table top accelerators. In particular, they could be an attractive driver for a whole range of light source applications. Recently it has been demonstrated that LWFAs can be a source of very bright x-rays. These x-rays are generated due to the transverse (betatron) oscillations of the electron beam as it is being accelerated. Experiments with 100 TW class lasers have shown the peak brightness of this betatron source to be comparable to 3rd generation light sources (S. Kneip et al, Nature Physics 6, 980-983 (2010)). I will present results from recent experiments on x-ray production using the 250 TW Astra Gemini Laser located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

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Authors

  • M. Bloom

    • The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London

  • M.J. Streeter

    • The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London

  • S. Kneip

    • The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London

  • R. Bendoyro

    • GoLP/Inst. Plasmas and Fus\~ao Nuclear, Laborat\'orio Associado, Instituto Superior T\'ecnico, Portugal

  • A. D\"opp

    • The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London

  • J. Holloway

    • University College London, Department of Physics \& Astronomy

  • J. Jiang

    • GoLP/Inst. Plasmas and Fus\~ao Nuclear, Laborat\'orio Associado, Instituto Superior T\'ecnico, Portugal

  • N. Lopes

    • GoLP/Inst. Plasmas and Fus\~ao Nuclear, Laborat\'orio Associado, Instituto Superior T\'ecnico, Portugal

  • Z. Najmudin

    • The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London

  • H. Nakamura

    • The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London

  • D. Symes

    • Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

  • S.P.D. Mangles

    • The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London