Speaker
Description
The AWAKE experiment at CERN is developing a novel concept for high-gradient particle acceleration using plasma wakefields driven by high-energy proton bunches. After the successful completion of Run 2b which aimed to demonstrate the stabilisation of micro-bunches with a density step in the plasma source, the experiment started the preparation of its next phase Run 2c which focuses on accelerating high-quality electron beams suitable for particle physics experiments. Run 2c introduces a new modular two-stage configuration, where proton self-modulation and electron acceleration occur in two separate plasma sections. This approach allows independent optimization of each stage, but also introduces significant challenges in beam transport, alignment, and synchronization. In particular, electrons must be injected into the second plasma stage with micron-level precision in both position and beam size to ensure proper matching with the accelerating and focusing regions of the wakefield. Due to these tight injection requirements, the design of a new witness electron beamline for external injection and the design of the injection region itself have been particularly challenging and will be discussed in this contribution.
