Speaker
Description
Recent achievements in Laser and Plasma Wakefield Acceleration experiments are driving interest in the scientific community towards the realization of compact and cost-effective plasma-based particle accelerators and light sources.
Research in this field is focused in the optimization of the plasma acceleration mechanism, aimed at improving the quality and stability of accelerated particle beams.
A key role in the efficiency of the acceleration process is played by the plasma source, generating and confining the plasma channels in which the laser or particle driver beams excite strong GV/m-range wakefields, which in turn accelerate the electron witness bunches.
R&D on plasma sources is devoted to the improvement of the plasma stability, uniformity and reproducibility and the realization of m-scale devices able to sustain long-term high repetition rate operation, such as to meet the requirements of light sources and other accelerator applications.
In addition, plasma sources are employed for applications other than particle acceleration, including particle beam focusing and guiding, performed with the so-called Active Plasma Lenses, and guiding of high intensity laser pulses.
This talk presents a summary overview of current solutions and future perspectives about advanced plasma sources for plasma-based particle accelerators.
