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High-resolution sampling of beam-driven plasma wakefields
S Schröder1,2, C A Lindstrøm3, S Bohlen3,4
1Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany. sarah.schroeder@desy.de.
Nature Communications
|November 26, 2020
Summary
Scientists developed a new method to measure plasma wakefields with femtosecond precision. This technique aids in controlling particle beams for future high-energy accelerators.
Area of Science:
- Plasma physics
- Particle accelerators
Background:
- Plasma-wakefield accelerators offer miniaturization for high-energy facilities.
- Controlled particle beams with precise energy spectra are crucial for these accelerators.
- Accurate measurement of plasma wakefields is essential for optimizing acceleration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a novel measurement technique for plasma wakefields.
- To enable femtosecond-level sampling of longitudinal electric fields.
- To investigate the impact of beam and plasma parameters on wakefield structure.
Main Methods:
- Developed a measurement technique based on energy collimation of particle bunches.
- Achieved femtosecond-level (15 fs) temporal resolution.
- Measured longitudinal electric fields on the order of 0.8 GV/m.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated the proposed measurement technique.
- Investigated the influence of beam and plasma parameters on the wakefield.
- Observed good agreement between experimental results and particle-in-cell simulations.
Conclusions:
- The new technique allows precise characterization of plasma wakefields.
- Enables detailed control over the acceleration process in plasma accelerators.
- Paves the way for high-quality operation of future plasma accelerator facilities.
