Novel approach to laser-driven multi-stage particle accelerator

粒子加速的全光学方法目前在国际上吸引了大量的研究工作。基于激光的粒子加速器的关键在于其成本效益和紧凑性。然而，激光驱动的离子束加速机制有缺点，如宽的能量谱和大的束发散。最近开发的一种多功能微型线性加速模块的概念巧妙地利用了强激光相互作用产生的极高电磁脉冲，并实现了质子束的同时聚焦，能量选择和后加速。该项目旨在在多阶段方案中释放该技术的全部潜力，以控制和改进质子束参数。与目前开发激光驱动多级电子加速器的趋势类似，该计划将为微型模块化离子加速器铺平道路，为科学，工业和医疗保健领域的广泛应用提供光束。该实验方案涉及，除其他事项外，使用高功率（100秒TW - PW）激光器，以进一步发展技术，控制和优化激光驱动的质子束参数。实验不仅将在内部的TARANIS激光设施中进行，还将在英国国内外的外部大型设施中进行。成功的候选人将在一个小型/中型团队中工作，包括来自合作机构的博士生和研究人员。

All-optical approaches to particle acceleration are currently attracting a significant research effort internationally. Key to the interest in a laser based particle accelerator lies in its cost effective and compactness. However, the ion beams accelerated by the laser-driven mechanisms have shortcomings such as a broad energy spectrum and large beam divergence. A recently developed concept of a versatile, miniature linear accelerating module ingeniously harnesses the extremely high electromagnetic pulses produced by the interaction of intense lasers, and achieves simultaneous focusing, energy selection and post-acceleration of the proton beams. The project aims to unlock the full potential of the technique in a multi-stage scenario in order to control and improve upon the proton beam parameters. Similar to current trend in developing laser-driven, multistage electron accelerators, this scheme will pave the way towards miniature, modular ion accelerators to deliver beams for widespread applications in science, industry and healthcare. The experimental programme involves, amongst other things, the use of high power (100s TW - PW) lasers to develop further the techniques towards control and optimisation of the laser driven proton beam parameters. Experiments will be carried out not only in the in-house TARANIS laser facility but also at external large-scale facilities both within and outside the UK. The successful candidate will work in a small/moderate team including PhD students and researchers from collaborating institutions.