Title :
Experimental Study of the Plasma Beat Wave Accelerator
Author :
Clayton, C.E. ; Joshi, C. ; Darrow, C. ; Umstadter, D. ; Chen, F.F.
Author_Institution :
University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90024
Abstract :
The physics of the beat-excited, relativistic electron plasma wave, a candidate for a laser particle accelerator, is studied in experiments at UCLA. Preliminary experiments have shown waves excited up to 1-3% of the cold wavebreaking amplitude, corresponding to longitudinal electric fields of 0.3-1.0 GeV/m. Issues addressed here include possible experimental limitations on the length, growth time, and amplitude of this plasma wave. Plans for future experiments on the acceleration of test charges will also be presented.
Keywords :
Acceleration; Electrons; Laser excitation; Laser theory; Life estimation; Linear particle accelerator; Particle accelerators; Physics; Plasma accelerators; Plasma waves;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TNS.1985.4334425
