FACET will develop more efficient and powerful accelerators through the study of plasma and dielectric wakefield acceleration. The facility will also study new methods to focus accelerator beams, while providing a unique "terahertz" lightsource for materials and biological research.
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Plasma Wakefield Acceleration
Experiments indicate that plasma wakefield machines could generate as much as 1,000 times the acceleration potential of current technology—allowing smaller, less-costly accelerators of tremendous power. This approach uses speeding electrons or a laser pulse to create a charge "wake" in a sea of ionized gas. Like surfers on a good wave, particles ride this plasma wake to greater and greater speeds.
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THz Radiation
The study of materials using terahertz radiation—light that falls between the infrared and microwave energy ranges—has brought significant scientific advances. FACET beams will provide unique and exciting new opportunities for discovery—the facility’s near-lightspeed electron bunches will be the most intense sources of terahertz radiation in the world.
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Plasma Focusing
Plasma lenses, with their extra-large focusing strength, may be a natural complement to plasma-based accelerators. FACET's high-quality electron beam, plasma source and specialized instrumentation will be used to test lens formation and characteristics, catalyzing the development of new ways to improve accelerator beam performance.
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Dielectric Wakefield Acceleration
In a dielectric wakefield accelerator, electromagnetic power is radiated by an ultra-short, intense "driving" electron bunch propagating in a hollow dielectric fiber. This power is then used to accelerate another "witness" bunch. FACET’s ability to provide the ideal electron beam required for this type of accelerator make it a one-of-a-kind facility for exploring dielectric wakefield acceleration.
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