A compact 100 MeV accelerator based on plasma wakefields

In the plasma wakefield accelerator short electron bunches accelerate by surfing on ultra-high gradient plasma waves excited by a lower voltage, higher current electron beam. This paper reviews the concept of and recent progress on the plasma wakefield accelerator. Proof-of-principle experiments have recently been carried out. Computer simulations of the experimental conditions confirm the importance of non-linear beam self-pinching and wave steepening in the experiment. The results of the experiment are encouraging for a next phase of experiments to demonstrate a 100 MeV compact accelerator (≤ 1 to 2 meters) based on a plasma wakefield device driven by a laser photo-injector linac