Electron phase-space control in photonic chip-based particle acceleration

Shiloh R, Illmer J, Chlouba T, Yousefi P, Schonenberger N, Niedermayer U, Mittelbach A, Hommelhoff P (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Nature Nature Research

Book Volume: 597

Pages Range: 498-502

Journal Issue: 7877

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03812-9

Abstract

Particle accelerators are essential tools in science, hospitals and industry1–6. Yet their costs and large footprint, ranging in length from metres to several kilometres, limit their use. The recently demonstrated nanophotonics-based acceleration of charged particles can reduce the cost and size of these accelerators by orders of magnitude7–9. In this approach, a carefully designed nanostructure transfers energy from laser light to the particles in a phase-synchronous manner, accelerating them. To accelerate particles to the megaelectronvolt range and beyond, with minimal particle loss10,11, the particle beam needs to be confined over extended distances, but the necessary control of the electron beam’s phase space has been elusive. Here we demonstrate complex electron phase-space control at optical frequencies in the 225-nanometre narrow channel of a silicon-based photonic nanostructure that is 77.7 micrometres long. In particular, we experimentally show alternating phase focusing10–13, a particle propagation scheme for minimal-loss transport that could, in principle, be arbitrarily long. We expect this work to enable megaelectronvolt electron-beam generation on a photonic chip, with potential for applications in radiotherapy and compact light sources9, and other forms of electron phase-space control resulting in narrow energy or zeptosecond-bunched beams14–16.

Authors with CRIS profile

Roy Shiloh Lehrstuhl für Laserphysik Johannes Illmer Lehrstuhl für Laserphysik Tomas Chlouba Lehrstuhl für Laserphysik Peyman Yousefi Lehrstuhl für Laserphysik Anna Mittelbach Lehrstuhl für Laserphysik Peter Hommelhoff Lehrstuhl für Laserphysik

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Darmstadt DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Shiloh, R., Illmer, J., Chlouba, T., Yousefi, P., Schonenberger, N., Niedermayer, U.,... Hommelhoff, P. (2021). Electron phase-space control in photonic chip-based particle acceleration. Nature, 597(7877), 498-502. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03812-9

MLA:

Shiloh, Roy, et al. "Electron phase-space control in photonic chip-based particle acceleration." Nature 597.7877 (2021): 498-502.

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