Abstract
Laser-plasma interactions are capable of generating extremely large accelerating electric fields that can produce high-energy electrons in very short distances Previous experiments with the Vulcan laser at the Rutherford Appleton Lab prior to the PetaWatt upgrade have produced electrons up to 120 MeV. The principal acceleration mechanism for such previous experiments has been the production of relativistic plasma waves, which can trap and accelerate electrons. Plasma acceleration offers the potential of significantly smaller acceleration facilities, which together with the rapid development of laser technology could allow university laboratory sized accelerators for use in a wide range of experiments.
© 2004 Optical Society of America
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