No Arabic abstract
In accelerator and plasma physics it is accepted that there is no need to solve the dynamical equations for particles in covariant form, i.e. by using the coordinate-independent proper time to parameterize particle world-lines in space-time: to describe dynamics in the laboratory frame, there is no need to use the laws of relativistic kinematics. It is sufficient to account for the relativistic dependence of particles momenta on the velocity in the second Newtons law. Then, the coupling of fields and particles is based on the use of result from particle dynamics treated according to Newtons laws in terms of the relativistic three-momentum and on the use of Maxwells equations in standard form. Previously, we argued that this is a misconception. Here we describe in detail how to calculate the coupling between fields and particles in a correct way and how to develop a new algorithm for a particle tracking code in agreement with the use of Maxwells equations in their standard form. Advanced textbooks on classical electrodynamics correctly tell us that Maxwells equations in standard form in the laboratory frame and charged particles are coupled by introducing particles trajectories as projections of particles world-lines onto coordinates of the laboratory frame and then by using the laboratory time to parameterize the trajectory curves. We show a difference between conventional and covariant particle tracking results in the laboratory frame. This essential point has never received attention in the physical community. Only the solution of the dynamical equations in covariant form gives the correct coupling between field equations in standard form and particles trajectories in the laboratory frame. Previous theoretical and simulation results in accelerator and plasma physics should be re-examined in the light of the pointed difference between conventional and covariant particle tracking.
C. B. Schroeder, E. Esarey, C. Benedetti, and W. P. Leemans {Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 13, 101301 (2010) and 15, 051301 (2012)} have proposed a set of parameters for a TeV-scale collider based on plasma wake field accelerator principles. In particular, it is suggested that the luminosities greater than 10^34 cm-2s-1 are attainable for an electron-positron collider. In this comment we dispute this set of parameters on the basis of first principles. The interactions of accelerating beam with plasma impose fundamental limitations on beam properties and, thus, on attainable luminosity values.
Maxwell theory is usually treated in the lab frame under the standard time order (light-signal clock synchronization). Particle tracking in the lab frame usually treats time as an independent variable. Then, the evolution of electron beams is treated according to the absolute time convention (non-standard clock synchronization). This point has never received attention in the accelerator community. There are two ways of coupling fields and particles. The first, Lorentzs way, consists in `translating Maxwells electrodynamics to the absolute time world-picture. The second, Einsteins way, consists in `translating particle tracking results to the electromagnetic world-picture. Conventional particle tracking shows that the electron beam direction changes after a transverse kick, while the orientation of the microbunching fronts stays unvaried. We show that under Einsteins time order, in the ultrarelativistic asymptote the orientation of the planes of simultaneity is always perpendicular to the electron beam velocity. This allows for the production of coherent undulator radiation from a modulated electron beam in the kicked direction without suppression. We hold a recent FEL study at the LCLS as experimental evidence of microbunching wavefront readjusting after a large kick. In a previous paper we quantitatively described this result invoking the aberration of light, corresponding to Lorentzs way of coupling fields and particles. Here we give details of the Lorentzs approach used in that paper. We also demonstrate that an `inverse translation of particle tracking results to the standard time order resolves puzzles related with the strong qualitative disagreement between simulations and experiments. Previous simulation results in ultrarelativistic electron beam physics should be reexamined in the light of the difference between particle tracking and electromagnetic world-pictures.
The field of plasma-based particle accelerators has seen tremendous progress over the past decade and experienced significant growth in the number of activities. During this process, the involved scientific community has expanded from traditional university-based research and is now encompassing many large research laboratories worldwide, such as BNL, CERN, DESY, KEK, LBNL and SLAC. As a consequence, there is a strong demand for a consolidated effort in education at the intersection of accelerator, laser and plasma physics. The CERN Accelerator School on Plasma Wake Acceleration has been organized as a result of this development. In this paper, we describe the interactive component of this one-week school, which consisted of three case studies to be solved in 11 working groups by the participants of the CERN Accelerator School.
This report is a summary of two preparatory workshops, documenting the community vision for the national accelerator and beam physics research program. It identifies the Grand Challenges of accelerator and beam physics (ABP) field and documents research opportunities to address these Grand Challenges. This report will be used to develop a strategic research roadmap for the field of accelerator science.
Laser plasma acceleration at kilohertz repetition rate has recently been shown to work in two different regimes, with pulse lengths of either 30 fs or 3.5 fs. We now report on a systematic study in which a large range of pulse durations and plasma densities were investigated through continuous tuning of the laser spectral bandwidth. Indeed, two LPA processes can be distinguished, where beams of the highest quality, with 5.4 pC charge and a spectrum peaked at 2-2.5 MeV are obtained with short pulses propagating in moderate plasma densities. Through Particle-in-Cell simulations the two different acceleration processes are thoroughly explained. Finally, we proceed to show the results of a 5-hour continuous and stable run of our LPA accelerator accumulating more than $mathrm{18times10^6}$ consecutive shots, with 2.6 pC charge and peaked 2.5 MeV spectrum. A parametric study of the influence of the laser driver energy through PIC simulations underlines that this unprecedented stability was obtained thanks to micro-scale density gradient injection. Together, these results represent an important step towards stable laser-plasma accelerated electron beams at kilohertz repetition rate.