Advancements in Miniature Particle Accelerators: Harnessing Laser Technology for High-Speed Electrons

Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have successfully demonstrated the first nanophotonic electron accelerator, using lasers to accelerate electrons within a photonic nanostructure. The accelerator, which is as small as a computer chip, achieved a 43% gain in energy, marking a significant milestone in the field of accelerator physics. The ultimate goal is to further increase energy gain and electron current to make the particle accelerator on a chip suitable for medical applications.