Multi-GeV electron acceleration in meter-scale low density plasma waveguides*

The use of low-density (∼10¹⁷ cm^-3), meter-scale plasma waveguides generated in long, low density supersonic gas jets has enabled a new generation of fully optical multi-GeV laser wakefield accelerators driven by few hundred TW lasers [1-5]. Most recently, these techniques have been employed to enable the consistent production of 1-10 GeV electron bunches with sub-mrad divergence and nC-level charge [6] for use as drivers for muon production in high-Z converter targets. The self-waveguiding process [1], essential to [2-6], is central to a proposed single stage, 6 m accelerator capable of producing electron bunches up to 100 GeV [7].

In this talk I will present our most recent high charge, multi-GeV acceleration results, supported by a new physics model of pulse propagation in long low density plasma waveguides [5] along with state-of-the-art models for waveguide formation [8]. These are essential for optimizing accelerator performance and scaling to energy gain beyond 10 GeV.