Cascade bunch focusing on chip using terahertz pulses to drive prism arrays

Abstract

The dielectric laser accelerator (DLA) is a promising candidate for next-generation table-top and even on-chip particle accelerators. Long-range focusing of a tiny-size electron bunch on chip is crucial for the practical applications of DLA, which has been a challenge. Here we propose a bunch focusing scheme, which uses a pair of readily available few-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses to drive an array of millimeter-scale prisms via the inverse Cherenkov effect. The THz pulses are reflected and refracted multiple times through the prism arrays, synchronizing with and periodically focusing the electron bunch along the bunch channel. Cascade bunch-focusing is realized by making the electromagnetic field phase experienced by electrons in each stage of the array, that is, the synchronous phase, in the focusing phase region. The focusing strength can be adjusted via changing the synchronous phase and THz field intensity, optimization of which will sustain the stable bunch transportation in a tiny-size bunch channel on chip. This bunch-focusing scheme sets a base for developing a long-acceleration-range and high-gain DLA.