Ionization Front Accelerator: High Gradients, Demonstrated Particle Acceleration, and a Proposed Relativistic Accelerator

摘要

The Ionization Front Accelerator (IFA) is a collective ion accelerator for which high-gradient particle acceleration has now been demonstrated. In the IFA, the space charge field at the front of an intense relativistic electron beam is controlled by a laser and used to accelerate an ion bunch. Two complete IFA systems have been built (IFA-1 and IFA-2). Here we present initial IFA-2 ion results that demonstrate that ions have been accelerated with controlled accelerating fields of 33 MV/m over 30 cm. Space charge fields of accelerators like the IFA and the plasma beat wave accelerator are compared, and both are shown to be capable of producing fields 1 GV/m and higher. The IFA systems are discussed and initial IFA-2 ion results are presented. Lastly, a relativistic IFA is proposed that should in principle, permit the attainment of virtually unlimited ion energies. 11 references, 8 figures. (ERA citation 10:024248)