Laser plasma acceleration can achieve accelerating fields of around 100 GV/m and is a promising concept for the development of future accelerators. Primarily focused on electron acceleration, efforts will focus on optimizing the performance of pump lasers, the energy source of the acceleration mechanism, and improving the quality of the electron beam. Work will focus on physics concepts to optimize the technical design of the machine in order to make the installations more reliable. Studies will also be conducted on laser plasma acceleration of ions with the experimental demonstration of new processes predicted by theory and developments for high rates and ultra-intense bunches. Alternative concepts are also being studied, such as vacuum acceleration by dielectrics providing compact sources for targeted applications, or plasma beam acceleration, using short electron bunches instead of the laser beam.
Simulation using the Smilei code of electron acceleration in the wake of an intense laser interacting with a plasma. The ionization injection mechanism creates electrons in the plasma cavity where they are trapped (credits: F. Massimo)