Multi-GeV laser wakefield acceleration in optically generated plasma waveguides

New techniques for optically generating meter-scale low density plasma waveguides above elongated supersonic jets [1–4] have enabled a new generation of multi-GeV laser wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) [4–7] capable of producing multi-Joule electron beams [8] with some electrons accelerated up to 10 GeV [6,7]. In this talk, we will first review the development of this type of accelerator, including key hardware [1,9], models of channel formation [10] and pulse evolution [4], and use as a muon source [11]. Next, we will present recent and ongoing work utilizing longitudinally tailored channels. We will discuss the implementation of logarithmic diffractive axicons [9] to generate funnel-mouthed waveguides [12] which improve robustness to laser pointing variation, the use of localized channel perturbations for localized injection, and density ramps to improve energy gain.