1-Meter Capillary Discharge for Laser Wakefield Acceleration

Laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) has demonstrated the ability to accelerate electrons in a plasma with gradients & gt;30 GeV/m where a capillary discharge is used as the plasma source. The capillary discharge has a parabolic plasma density profile that is able to guide the focused laser beam used to drive the LWFA process. Upcoming LWFA experiments require a 1-m long capillary discharge with a relatively low plasma density. Current capillary discharge designs are inherently limited in the minimum plasma density they can provide while still guiding the laser beam in a tight focus needed to drive the LWFA process. STI Optronics, Inc. (STI) has developed a novel scheme for a new type of capillary discharge that permits operating at low plasma densities while at the same time maintaining a deep parabolic density profile able to guide a tightly-focused laser beam. A computer simulation of this new capillary discharge was developed that builds upon an existing capillary discharge model developed by STI. During Phase I, this model will be enhanced so that it can be used to design a 1-m long capillary discharge. A prototype 1-m capillary discharge will built during Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Capillary discharges, as part of a laser wakefield acceleration system, will enable development of high-gradient advanced electron accelerators. Potential usage of these systems includes enabling TeV-class accelerators for high-energy physics and construction of compact accelerators for industrial, medical, homeland defense, and scientific applications.