Development of a Laser-Powered Dielectric Structure-Based Accelerator as a Stand-Alone Particle Source

An experimental program to develop and build a dielectric-based slab-symmetric structure (the micro-accelerator platform, or MAP) for generating and accelerating low-energy electrons is underway at UCLA and Manhattanville College. This optical acceleration structure is effectively a resonant cavity...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yoder, R. B., Travish, G., Arab, E. R., Fong, D., Hoyer, Z., Lacroix, U. H., Vartanian, N., Rosenzweig, J. B.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCELERATION
ACCELERATORS
BEAM INJECTION
BEAM PRODUCTION
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
CAVITY RESONATORS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRON BEAM INJECTION
ELECTRON SOURCES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
LASERS
LEPTONS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS SCIENCE
MICROSTRUCTURE
PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
PARTICLE SOURCES
RADIATION SOURCES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RESONATORS
TESTING
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Summary:An experimental program to develop and build a dielectric-based slab-symmetric structure (the micro-accelerator platform, or MAP) for generating and accelerating low-energy electrons is underway at UCLA and Manhattanville College. This optical acceleration structure is effectively a resonant cavity powered by a side-coupled laser, and has applications as a radiation source for medicine or industry. We present recent experimental and computational results on the accelerator, and progress toward its incorporation into a self-contained particle source. Such a particle source would incorporate a micron-scale electron emitter and a non-relativistic capture region to enable self-injection into the synchronous field within the accelerator. A prototype of the accelerator itself has been constructed from candidate dielectric materials using micromanufacturing techniques; the current status of the testing program is described. A novel electron emitter incorporating pyroelectric crystals with field-enhancing tips has been demonstrated to produce steady currents; the results are dependent on tip geometry, and appear suitable for injection into a microstructure. Extension of the MAP concept to non-relativistic velocities, as in the stand-alone source, requires a tapered structure that gives rise to numerous complications including beam defocusing and manufacturing challenges; approaches for addressing these complications are mentioned.
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616
DOI:10.1063/1.3520356