High-gradient transportable laser accelerator for high duty cycle applications

The Inverse Free Electron Laser (IFEL) is a leading contender to demonstrate high gradient, high repetition rate laser acceleration for the next generation of small footprint, high energy (>200 MeV) accelerators for military applications. In the IFEL energy is transferred from a high power laser to an electron beam as they co-propagate through a magnetic undulator. The rapid development of laser technology will enable a 1 GeV energy gain in a 1 meter long IFEL accelerator in the near future. Importantly, the IFEL produces a high quality electron beam, features excellent shot-to-shot repeatability, and can operate at high repetition rate. The objective of this project is to develop an IFEL energy booster designed for transportable military applications, and experimentally demonstrate (in Phase II) up to 350 MeV/m IFEL accelerating gradient. In addition, it is planned to experimentally investigate IFEL operation in an innovative bunch train mode, where each laser pulse is recycled through the IFEL system many times to increase the duty cycle. The Phase II experimental work in this project will be performed at the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) at BNL, which combines state-of-the-art accelerator and laser technologies, and is an ideal environment for Proof-of-Concept (POC) prototype development work.