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Transversely pumped laser driven particle accelerator
Tanner Nutting1,2, Nicholas Ernst3, Alexander G R Thomas3,4
1Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. tnutting@umich.edu.
Nature Communications
|May 2, 2026
Summary
We developed Transversely Pumped Acceleration (TPA) to accelerate electrons and ions using laser beamlets. This novel scheme achieves high energy gains, showing potential for compact accelerators in physics and medicine.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Laser-driven Acceleration
Background:
- Particle accelerators are crucial for scientific research and medical applications.
- Existing acceleration techniques face limitations such as dephasing and size constraints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and theoretically validate a novel acceleration scheme, Transversely Pumped Acceleration (TPA).
- To demonstrate the potential for high-gradient acceleration of electrons and ions in underdense plasma.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of laser beamlet interactions in plasma.
- Particle-in-cell simulations to validate the acceleration mechanism.
- Precise control of laser injection timing and beamlet spacing.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated acceleration of 1.12 GeV proton beams within 3.6 mm of plasma.
- Achieved electron acceleration gradients on the order of 1 TeV/m.
- Circumvented the dephasing limitation inherent in some acceleration schemes.
Conclusions:
- Transversely Pumped Acceleration (TPA) offers a promising new avenue for compact and efficient particle acceleration.
- The tunable phase velocity plasma wave generated by TPA enables precise control over particle acceleration.
- Potential applications include compact accelerators for medical physics and high-energy physics colliders.
