Dielectric Laser Accelerator in Mid-Infrared

• Applicants: Dr. Florian Burkart; Huseyin Cankaya, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 453615464

In the proposed project, we aim to develop a high-energy, high-repetition rate, tunable mid-infrared (MIR) laser source between 3 and 5 µm based on parametric amplification by upgrading an existing system in Centre for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL), and to drive dielectric laser accelerators (DLAs) with the developed laser system to test advanced accelerator technologies.The project is composed of three parts. In the first part of the project, a cryogenically cooled Ho:YLF amplifier system will be developed able to deliver 25 mJ at 5 kHz corresponding to 125 W of average power at 2.05 µm. The system will deliver more than 2 times higher average power than the highest reported value in the literature to date. In the second part, we will use the developed laser system to amplify the pulses in MIR to mJ level via optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) which will be an improvement in the average power of more than 6 times of the state of art. The OPAs will be seeded by white-light continuum generated in bulk material, which is driven by the same amplifier system as pumping the OPAs. In the third part of the project, DLAs will be driven by the developed MIR source to demonstrate MeV level single-bunch net acceleration inside DLA and we will investigate the scalability of the acceleration gradient and bunch charge with the wavelength of the driver source. For the proof of principle experiments, the DLAs will be externally injected by pre-accelerated electrons from the radio frequency linear accelerator in the SINBAD (Short Innovative Bunches and Accelerators at DESY) facility. Furthermore, we will test advanced accelerator concepts such as micro-bunching the electron pulses via DLA for sub –sequent acceleration or the application of coherent x-ray generation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: Dielectric gratings ; Tm:fiber pump lasers
• Instrumentation Group: 5700 Festkörper-Laser ; 5940 Optische Gitter