Burst mode MHz repetition rate inverse free electron laser acceleration

Abstract

The capability of accelerating electron bunches at high repetition rate is one of the key performance criteria for all high average power particle accelerator applications. High gradient laser-driven acceleration holds the potential for greatly reducing size and costs of future machines, but typically requires very high peak laser powers. On the other hand, MHz pulse trains of TW-class laser beams are much beyond the state of the art, so that laser recycling and recirculation is a necessary step to bridge that gap. In this experiment we demonstrate for the first time an inverse free electron laser accelerator (IFEL) operating within an active optical cavity showing the ability to laser-accelerate electron bunch trains in burst mode at >20 MHz repetition rate. The experimental setup, synchronization challenges and acceleration results are presented. It is found that careful control of the dispersive properties of the cavity is required in order to sustain high accelerating gradients over many passes in the laser pulse train.