Laser acceleration of electrons at a dielectric structure -- from novel accelerator technology to ultrafast measurement devices

5 Jun 2014, 09:30
30m
Effectenbeurszaal (Beurs van Berlage)

Effectenbeurszaal

Beurs van Berlage

Speaker

Peter Hommelhoff (Univ. of Erlangen and Max Planck for Quantum Optics)

Description

In free space, efficient momentum transfer over an extended distance between an oscillating field and a massive charged particle is impossible. With a proper boundary, this notion does not hold any longer. We have recently shown that electrons can be continuously accelerated with laser light at a dielectric grating structure. With low-power femtosecond laser pulses at 800 nm we could accelerate non-relativistic 30-keV electrons with a gradient of 25 MeV/m. With relativistic electrons and similar parameters, the acceleration gradients will exceed 1 GeV/m. We will present the underlying physics, will show the details and results of this proof-of-concept experiment, and will sketch potential applications and devices resulting from dielectric laser-based acceleration and control schemes.

Primary author

Peter Hommelhoff (Univ. of Erlangen and Max Planck for Quantum Optics)

Presentation materials