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Positron Acceleration by Plasma Wakefields Driven by a Hollow Electron Beam
Neeraj Jain1, T M Antonsen2, J P Palastro3
1Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|November 21, 2015
Summary
Positron plasma wakefield acceleration is achieved using hollow electron beams. This method creates strong accelerating fields, enabling significant energy gains for positrons in advanced accelerator experiments.
Area of Science:
- Plasma physics
- Particle acceleration
- Accelerator physics
Background:
- Plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA) offers a pathway to higher accelerating gradients compared to conventional accelerators.
- Hollow or donut-shaped electron beams are proposed as drivers for PWFA, potentially overcoming limitations of traditional driver profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of positron acceleration using hollow electron driver beams in a plasma.
- To determine the achievable accelerating gradients and energy gain for positrons under these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Particle-in-cell simulations were employed to model the interaction of a hollow electron beam with a plasma.
- Analysis focused on the resulting electric fields and their impact on a trailing positron beam.
Main Results:
- A hollow electron beam creates an electron-free region, establishing favorable accelerating and focusing fields for positrons.
- Accelerating gradients of approximately 10 GV/m were achieved for Facility for Advanced Accelerator Experimental Tests (FACET)-like parameters.
- Simulations demonstrated the acceleration of a 23-GeV positron beam to 35.4 GeV with low energy spread (0.4%) and emittance over 140 cm.
Conclusions:
- Hollow electron beams are a promising driver configuration for efficient positron plasma wakefield acceleration.
- The study confirms the potential for high-gradient acceleration and precise beam control in PWFA schemes.
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