Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences - Department of Physics

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences | Department of Physics | Colloquium | Colloquia | Department Colloquium: Dr. Jens Osterhoff (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY)

Department Colloquium: Dr. Jens Osterhoff (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY)

Lecture on: "FLASHForward into the Future - Challenges and Prospects for Plasma-Wave Acceleration"
  • When Jul 03, 2018 from 03:15 to 05:00
  • Where Lise-Meitner-Haus, Christian-Gerthsen-Hörsaal, Newtonstraße 15, 12489 Berlin
  • iCal

Department Colloquium: Dr. Jens Osterhoff (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY) will speak about "FLASHForward into the Future - Challenges and Prospects for Plasma-Wave Acceleration".

Abstract

The field of particle acceleration in plasma waves has seen remarkable progress in recent years. These days, acceleration gradients of more than 10 GV/m can be readily achieved using either ultra-short intense laser pulses or particle beams as wake drivers. With the demonstration of first GeV electron beams and a trend towards improved reproducibility, beam quality and control over the involved plasma processes, plasma-acceleration techniques are starting to draw considerable interest in the traditional accelerator community. As a consequence, DESY, Germany's leading accelerator centre, has established a research programme for plasma-based novel acceleration techniques with the goal to symbiotically combine conventional and new accelerator concepts. This presentation will give an introduction into the field of plasma wake acceleration and provide an overview about novel-accelerator experiments at DESY including the FLASHForward project. FLASHForward is a pioneering beam-driven plasma-wakefield experiment that aims to produce, in a few centimeters of ionized hydrogen, electron beams of energies exceeding 1.5 GeV that are of sufficient quality to demonstrate gain in a free-electron laser. The experimental beamline will allow for milestone studies assessing plasma-internal particle injection regimes, external injection, and controlled beam capturing and release for subsequent applications. The facility provides a unique combination of low-emittance GeV-class electrons from the superconducting MHz repetition rate accelerator FLASH synchronized to a 25 TW laser interacting in a windowless, optically accessible, versatile plasma target. Experiments will commence in 2018 and are foreseen to run for more than four years, opening up new avenues in this highly dynamic research field.