APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Critical for multi-GeV laser plasma accelerators
- Applications include medical devices for cancer treatment, advanced light sources, industry and manufacturing, musea, and particle physics
ADVANTAGES:
- Allows for operation of capillary discharge technology at sufficiently low plasma density
- Provides reliable plasma structure for laser plasma accelerators that can provide electron beams from the MeV level to the multi-GeV level
- Provides a controlled level of focusing for high energy particle acceleration
- First experimental method for the generation of hollow plasma channels
ABSTRACT:
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a practical method to produce near-hollow plasma channels. Hollow plasma channels have been theorized for years and serve as a potential approach for developing high energy particle acceleration with relevance to Tera-electron Volt colliders. Near-hollow plasma channels are advantageous because they provide a controlled level of focusing and the scattering of particle beams is avoided. The plasma channel also functions to guide high intensity laser pulses. The near-hollow plasma channels provide another advantage by allowing capillary discharge technology to operate at low plasma density in order to achieve high electron beam energies while simultaneously providing good guiding and protection of the walls that confine the plasma.
Specifically, the technology uses cryogenically cooled tubes or capillary discharge systems of various diameters and freezes gas onto its walls. The gas is turned into a plasma of high density in which a high intensity laser pulse is used to excite high electric fields and serve as a protective layer for the solid-state material that confines the plasma.
Ultimately, this technology is a reliable plasma structure for laser plasma accelerators that can provide electron beams from the MeV level to the multi-GeV level, advancing medical devices, research, and particle physics.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Proven principle
STATUS: Patent pending. Available for licensing or collaborative research.