Thesis

In situ diagnostics and stabilisation of plasma-based particle accelerators towards applications

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2026
Thesis identifier
  • T18028
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 202093477
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • Plasma-based particle acceleration offers a novel pathway for achieving ultra-high energy gains in charged particles over propagation distances orders of magnitude shorter than those required by conventional RF accelerators. Demonstrated beam properties, including femtosecond bunch duration, low divergence, and high peak current, underscore its potential for deployment across a broad range of scientific and industrial use cases. Yet, plasma accelerators are presently limited to research-grade facilities, with their successful operation contingent upon the support of extensive, expert personnel. This work examines three topics that each play a critical role in advancing plasma accelerators toward practical, application-ready machines. The first one is driving the accelerator with more accessible, kHz laser systems. We experimentally validate the e-KAIO (electron Kit-All-in-One) laser-plasma accelerator module for kHz laser operation. This constitutes a first step towards the wide dissemination of fully integrated laser–plasma accelerator technology. Furthermore, we demonstrate that existing kHz laser–plasma accelerators are capable of generating electron fluxes with characteristics comparable to those observed in the Earth’s Outer Van Allen Belt, fulfilling the rising demand for beams sources capable of carrying out accelerated lifetime radiation hardness testing on space qualified electronics. The second topic is the stabilisation of accelerated particle beams. Here, we show that employing fluctuating output electron beams from an LWFA to drive an additional PWFA stage with a plasma photocathode injector, can produce secondary electron beams with greater stability, higher quality, and improved reliability. This hybrid approach also acts as a brightness transformer with 5D and 6D brightness values of B5,n > 1019Am−2 rad−2 and B6,n > 1018Am−2 rad−2/0.1%BW achieved during this study, nurturing prospects for demanding applications such as free-electron lasers. The third theme is the establishment of a live non-intrusive accelerator diagnostic. Here, we construct a well-controlled experimental setting in which correlations between the plasma afterglow signal and key accelerator parameters: laser pointing angle, laser energy and gas density, can be quantitatively assessed, enabling the emitted light to be leveraged as a diagnostic for quantities that have historically been difficult to measure at the interaction point. Additionally, the scope of the afterglow technique was broadened by illustrating its ability to diagnose the non-linear ionisation-induced defocusing experienced by an intense laser pulse propagating in a gaseous medium, distinguishing this method from comparable diagnostics. Each part of this work advances its respective research domain, yet collectively it lays the foundation for generating electron beams with orders of magnitude higher brightness, strength and frequency in next-generation staged plasma accelerator architectures.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Gray, Ross
  • Hidding, Bernhard
  • McKenna, Paul
Resource Type
DOI

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