Novel Compact Laser Plasma Accelerators

In the Compact Laser Plasma Accelerator Technology Lab, researchers from DESY and HZDR are working together on pioneering applications of laser plasma acceleration, each with their own areas of focus. Researchers at DESY are working on laser plasma accelerators that generate electron beams over distances of just a few centimeters to produce brilliant X-rays. Technologies that could previously only be implemented in large accelerators will thus be brought directly into industry and clinics in the future. The aim of the lab is to build a demonstrator that meets industrial requirements such as high energy stability. At HZDR, ultra-compact, laser-driven ion sources are being developed. Proton pulses or pulses of heavier ions with energies of several tens of MeV per nucleon are generated over an acceleration distance of just a few micrometers. These sources are particularly interesting for applications in medical research or as drivers for neutron generation. The aim of the lab is to build a demonstrator system for neutron generation in collaboration with partners in industry.