Abstract
A method of accelerating charged particles in a plasma and an associated plasma accelerator and electromagnetic radiation source, the method including creating a region of non-uniform electric field within the plasma which propagates through the plasma; using the non-uniform electric field to accelerate a first plurality of charged particles in the direction of propagation of the region of non-uniform electric field; and once the accelerating first plurality of charged particles have propagated part-way through the plasma: adding a second plurality of charged particles to the plasma, such that the second plurality of charged particles propagates through the plasma, the second plurality of charged particles create a local distortion in the non-uniform electric field experienced by the accelerating first plurality of charged particles, and the local distortion in the non-uniform electric field propagates through the plasma with the accelerating first plurality of charged particles; and the method also including using the local distortion in the non-uniform electric field to accelerate the first plurality of charged particles in the direction of propagation of the region of non-uniform electric field.
Original language | English |
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Patent number | WO2018069670A1 |
IPC | WO2018069670A1 |
Publication status | Published - 19 Apr 2018 |