21.01.2022 / 14:30 / Hamburg, Zoom

Quantum Universe Lecture

Principles of Plasma Accelerators and their Impact on Science and Society (3/3)

J. Osterhoff (DESY)

Plasmas provide substantial miniaturization potential for sources of high-energy charged particle beams owing to their capability to sustain electric fields far beyond GV/m, thereby outperforming state-of-the-art metallic radio-frequency accelerators by orders of magnitude. In recent years, substantial progress in beam quality and beam control from plasma-based accelerators has been demonstrated. This progress was accompanied by advances in the fidelity of beam characterization and often relied on combining novel plasma-based schemes with modern concepts from traditional accelerator science including intelligent feedbacks, high-resolution diagnostics, and advanced machine controls. As a consequence, plasma technology is on the verge of becoming a viable and attractive option to power first compact applications in photon science and health with potentially profound societal impact. At the same time, these developments are essential steps toward the ultimate goal: the construction of a plasma-based collider for particle physics, for which aspects such as acceleration efficiency, average power, and particle energies in the TeV range become critical challenges. In this lecture series, the basic schemes and important physics processes that govern plasma-based wakefield accelerators will be introduced. recent highlight results from laser- and beam-driven plasma accelerators will be presented and discussed and put into context of the aforementioned target applications. This includes plasma accelerator R&D on the path to novel medical imaging modalities, compact free-electron lasers, first (particle) physics experiments, and high-efficiency energy-booster modules suitable for upgrades of existing and future facilities in photon science and particle physics at the energy frontier.

More Information: https://indico.desy.de/category/651/