Breakthrough in Compact Accelerator Technology Sets New Energy Milestone
Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin have developed a compact particle accelerator less than 20 meters long that can produce an electron beam with an energy of 10 billion electron volts (10 GeV), a milestone previously achieved only by much larger accelerators. The accelerator, called an advanced wakefield laser accelerator, utilizes nanoparticles to boost the energy delivered to electrons from plasma waves created by a powerful laser striking helium gas. This compact accelerator has potential applications in semiconductor technology, medical imaging, cancer therapy, and advanced medical imaging techniques. It could also be used to drive an X-ray free electron laser for studying atomic and molecular processes.