Department of Physics and Astronomy: Publications and Other Research

 

Date of this Version

8-2011

Citation

Nature Photonics 5 (2011), pp. 576–577; doi: 10.1038/nphoton.2011.235

Comments

Copyright © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. Used by permission.

Abstract

A main attraction of laser-driven electron accelerators is their absence of cavity walls, which can break down in the presence of intense electric fields. Now it seems that the inclusion of a hollow glass fibre cavity could lead to more efficient acceleration at lower laser intensities. ... Further research will reveal which of the above methods for guiding light will ultimately prove best for future accelerator designs. In any case, although it is perhaps ironic that the relatively old technology of glass waveguides may benefit next-generation accelerators, it is nonetheless satisfying to see such a classic photonic solution come to the aid of a current research problem.

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