A Novel Wakefield Gas Jet

Relative to conventional RF-based accelerators, Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) has demonstrated a quantum leap in electron beam acceleration over a given length. This technology is poised to bring high energy electron beams within reach of a host of new applications in research, industry, and medicine. However, much research needs to be done to understand the basic physics of the wakefield acceleration process and to continue scaling to more intense and energetic beams. Because gas jet targets allow for maximum diagnostic accessibility, their use may be critical to a better understanding of the basic physics involved. Unfortunately, gas jet targets presently in use at state-of-the-art LWFA facilities leave room for improvement. This project will develop technology for improving the gas distribution, and for providing sharper density gradients, better control of density distributions, and tailored density distributions.