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Principles and applications of compact laser–plasma accelerators

Nature Physics volume 4, pages 447–453 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Rapid progress in the development of high-intensity laser systems has extended our ability to study light–matter interactions far into the relativistic domain, in which electrons are driven to velocities close to the speed of light. As well as being of fundamental interest in their own right, these interactions enable the generation of high-energy particle beams that are short, bright and have good spatial quality. Along with steady improvements in the size, cost and repetition rate of high-intensity lasers, the unique characteristics of laser-driven particle beams are expected to be useful for a wide range of contexts, including proton therapy for the treatment of cancers, materials characterization, radiation-driven chemistry, border security through the detection of explosives, narcotics and other dangerous substances, and of course high-energy particle physics. Here, we review progress that has been made towards realizing such possibilities and the principles that underlie them.

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Figure 1: Injection schemes in laser–plasma accelerators.
Figure 2: Three snapshots illustrating the dynamics of proton acceleration from the rear surface of a laser-irradiated thin target.
Figure 3: Principle of the betatron radiation produced in a wakefield cavity.
Figure 4: Time–space relationship characterizing energy deposition during the interaction of a relativistic electron beam (MeV) with liquid water.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge R. Ferrand, T. Fuchs, L. Silva, H. Videau and G. Mourou for fruitful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée, École Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées, École Polytechnique, CNRS, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France

    Victor Malka, Jérôme Faure, Yann A. Gauduel, Antoine Rousse & Kim Ta Phuoc

  2. Département de Physique Théorique et Appliquée, CEA/DAM Ile-de-France, Bruyères-le-Châtel, 91297 Arpajon, France

    Erik Lefebvre

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Correspondence to Victor Malka.

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Malka, V., Faure, J., Gauduel, Y. et al. Principles and applications of compact laser–plasma accelerators. Nature Phys 4, 447–453 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys966

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