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Optimization of Optical Injection and Electron Trapping Efficiency in a Laser Wakefield Accelerator (LWFA)

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-06ER84470
Agency Tracking Number: 80798S06-I
Amount: $99,750.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 38
Solicitation Number: DE-FG01-05ER05-28
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
4431 MacArthur Boulevard
Washington, DC 20007
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Dmitri Kaganovitch
 Dr.
 (202) 767-2754
 dmitri@ppd.nrl.navy.mil
Business Contact
 Christos Kapetanakos
Title: Dr.
Phone: (202) 337-8349
Email: let-kapetanakos@starpower.net
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The laser wakefield accelerator is one of several advanced accelerator concepts that takes advantage of the extremely high electric fields that can be supported in a plasma. Most experiments to date have operated in unstable regimes, producing either poor quality electron beams with large energy spread or poor shot-to-shot reproducibility. This project will modify the resonant laser wakefield acceleration by including a phased electron injection into a plasma channel. The modified procedure has the potential of producing high quality electron beams in a stable and controllable fashion, a prerequisite for realizing a commercial quality, compact plasma accelerator. Phase I will optimize an all-optical electron injector by experimentally combining high-density laser ionization and ponderomotive acceleration with self-modulated laser wakefield acceleration. Trapping efficiency at the entrance of the acceleration plasma channel will be enhanced through the use of novel density profiles. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by the Applicant: The technology should lead to compact high energy accelerators capable of producing short-pulse deep-penetrating x-rays for radiography, with applications in industry, national defense, and medicine.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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