Unifying Physics of Accelerators, Lasers and Plasma

Unifying Physics of Accelerators, Lasers and Plasma introduces the physics of accelerators, lasers and plasma in tandem with the industrial methodology of inventiveness, a technique that teaches that similar problems and solutions appear again and again in seemingly dissimilar disciplines. This unique approach builds bridges and enhances connectio

Bright and stable Betatron beams from laser-driven plasma Wakefield

The acceleration of electron bunches reaching GeV energies within a centimeter-scale device exemplifies the remarkable advancements achieved in the field of laser-plasma acceleration. One essential by-product of such acceleration process is the production of highly energetic X-ray photons. In this thesis, I will detail an experimental research centered on Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA). The main focus of this research is directed towards exploiting LWFA as compact sources of brilliant, hard synchrotron radiation, commonly referred to as betatron radiation. The primary result of the thesis follows the production of hard X-ray photons in keV regime using gas cell as the target for LWFA through ionisation injection scheme. The gas cell length was kept much longer than the electron dephasing length with an anticipation of the overlap of the laser fields with the charge trapped inside the plasma wave. This overlap could result in stronger transverse oscillation of the trapped electron bunches and an increase in the total emission of the X-rays produced by the LWFA. Hydrogen and Helium were used as the background gas with Nitrogen as the dopant. The resulting X-rays showed high critical energy, peak brilliance and source size at par with the results shown by other groups [1–4]. Additionally, the X-rays produced boast of high degree of shot to shot stability and reproducibility paving way for the implementation of single shot imaging set-up at JETi200 laser system in Jena, Germany. Another result discusses the production of quasi-monoenergetic electron beams from LWFA by implementing shock-front injection mechanism [5, 6]. The X-ray beam measured from such quasi-monoenergetic beams were found to have critical energy similar to [7]. However, the X-ray beam had lower critical energy and photon yield than the beams produced using ionization injection mechanism

Search for the O⁴⁺₁₆ /O⁴⁺₁₈ isotope shift in the photoionization of Be-like oxygen with monochromatic soft X-ray synchrotron radiation.

Highly charged oxygen ions exist in astrophysical plasmas in a variety of charge states. The experimental investigation of the transitions of these ions in the soft X-ray region is therefore of great importance for the validation and improvement of astrophysical models. One of the strongest transitions is the Kα transition 1s22s2 → 1s2s22p3/2 of Be-like oxygen O4+. The aim of this work was to investigate this transition at 554 eV by resonant excitation with soft X-ray synchrotron radiation. The ions were produced and trapped in an electron beam ion trap and excited with synchrotron radiation from the Elettra synchrotron in Trieste, Italy. With the EBIT, both radiative decay channels and autoionizing decay channels can be measured in parallel. The charge state distribution is determined via a time-of-flight measurement, so that ions with different charges and masses can be resolved separately. This makes it possible to search for an isotope shift. In addition to searching for an isotope shift of O16/O18 in the photoionization from the Kα transition of Be-like oxygen, the energy for this transition is determined absolutely in this work and compared with other sources

Particle Physics Reference Library

This third open access volume of the handbook series deals with accelerator physics, design, technology and operations, as well as with beam optics, dynamics and diagnostics. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the “Particle Physics Reference Library” provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A,B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open acces

Laser-Driven Plasma Waves for Particle Acceleration and X-ray Production

This thesis presents experimental results related to laser plasma accelerators. These rely on very different principles from conventional particle accelerators. They are able to accelerate particles over a very short distance and produce synchrotron x-rays at the same time, potentially providing a compact particle accelerator and x-ray source for many future applications. The laser pulses used in the experiments reported in this thesis were extremely powerful (TW) and when focused, intensities as high as 10^20 W/cm^2 were achieved. When matter is exposed to such high intensities, it becomes a plasma, and collective motion of electrons is possible. The laser pulse "ploughs" through the plasma creating a plasma wave behind it, very much like a boat at sea. The perturbation in electron density caused by the wave produces strong longitudinal electric fields, travelling at the same speed as the laser pulse. These fields can then be used to accelerate electrons to hundreds of MeV in only a few mm. In addition to longitudinal electric fields, transverse fields are also produced, which can make the electrons "wiggle" transversely and emit x-rays. In a related process, heavy ions can also be accelerated by high-intensity lasers, when interacting with a solid target. In the experimental work reported in this thesis, the use of dielectric capillary tubes was explored in order to increase the accelerating length by externally guiding the laser pulse and counteracting diffraction. Linear plasma waves over several centimetres were produced and characterised. Electron beams and x-rays produced in dielectric capillary tubes were also studied, where it was found that it was possible to trap electrons even at a low initial laser intensity. An active stabilisation system was developed in parallel to improve the pointing of the laser system, as the dielectric capillaries are very sensitive to pointing fluctuation. The laser focal spot was modified in a controlled way using adaptive optics. By adding coma aberration, the focal spot could be made asymmetric and the x-ray emission enhanced, as the electrons oscillate with a greater amplitude. Adding spherical aberration allowed the effect of the quality of the focal spot on the wavebreaking threshold to be studied. A simple model predicting whether or not the plasma wave breaks was developed by varying the laser energy and pulse duration. Two ways of increasing or modifying the proton energy distribution without increasing the laser power are also presented in this thesis. The absorption of the main laser pulse was improved and the proton energy increased by using a 100 fs long laser prepulse. Finally, hollow microspheres were used as targets, which allowed for "recycling" of the laterally spreading electrons to establish a new accelerating field that could accelerate the protons once more

Briefing Book for the Zeuthen Workshop

On Jun 18th 2004, the CERN Council, upon the initiative of its President, Prof. Enzo Iarocci, established an ad hoc scientific advisory group (the Strategy Group), to produce a draft strategy for European particle physics, which is to be considered by a special meeting of the CERN Council, to be held in Lisbon on Jul 14th 2006. There are three volumes to the Briefing Book. This first volume contains an introductory essay on particle physics, a summary of the issues discussed at the Open Symposium, and discussions of the other themes that the Strategy should address. The introductory essay on particle physics and the other themes were commissioned by the Preparatory Group. The summary of the issues discussed in the Symposium was prepared by the chairs of the sessions, the session speakers and the scientific secretaries. We acknowledge that this has been a difficult task, again on a very tight timescale, and we would like to thank all of those who have contributed to this volume

Bruno Touschek 100 Years: Memorial Symposium 2021

This open access book celebrates the contribution of Bruno Touschek to theoretical physics and particle colliders in Europe. It contains direct testimonials from his former students, collaborators, and eminent scientists, among them, two Nobel Prize winners in Physics, Giorgio Parisi and Carlo Rubbia. It reviews the main developments in theoretical and accelerator physics in the second half of the twentieth century, while at the same time providing an overview of future prospects worldwide. This book is unique in that it will be of interest to historians of physics and also to the younger generation of researchers. Through the contribution of the leading protagonists, the interested scholar will learn about the past, present status, and relevance of both theoretical and experimental accelerator physics. The overview of Bruno Touschek’s life and works across Europe, from pre-war Vienna to Germany, the UK, Italy, and France, adds a human dimension to the scientific narration, while the open access status makes this laudatory book available to anyone with interest

Bruno Touschek 100 Years

This open access book celebrates the contribution of Bruno Touschek to theoretical physics and particle colliders in Europe. It contains direct testimonials from his former students, collaborators, and eminent scientists, among them, two Nobel Prize winners in Physics, Giorgio Parisi and Carlo Rubbia. It reviews the main developments in theoretical and accelerator physics in the second half of the twentieth century, while at the same time providing an overview of future prospects worldwide. This book is unique in that it will be of interest to historians of physics and also to the younger generation of researchers. Through the contribution of the leading protagonists, the interested scholar will learn about the past, present status, and relevance of both theoretical and experimental accelerator physics. The overview of Bruno Touschek’s life and works across Europe, from pre-war Vienna to Germany, the UK, Italy, and France, adds a human dimension to the scientific narration, while the open access status makes this laudatory book available to anyone with interest