Design, fabrication, and testing of a fused-silica dual-layer grating structure for direct laser acceleration of electrons

Abstract

A proof of principle fused-silica grating structure has been designed and fabricated for the purpose of direct laser acceleration of electrons. The optimal structure geometry was determined via 2D-FDTD and 3D-FEFD simulations to maximize the available acceleration gradient. The structure was fabricated with standard nanofabrication techniques, including optical lithography, reactive ion etching, and wafer bonding. Beam tests have been performed with the 60MeV beam at the Next Linear Collider Test Accelerator at SLAC, with successful demonstration of electron transmission through the micron-scale apertures. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.