Physicists are advancing the design of a smaller, cheaper particle accelerator using wakefield acceleration, a technique studied since the 1970s. This method involves electrons surfing on plasma waves generated by particle beams or lasers, offering acceleration up to 1,000 times greater than traditional accelerators. Researchers, including Spencer Gessner and Patric Muggli, emphasize the need to transition from theoretical studies to practical applications. Significant challenges remain, such as constructing multiple acceleration chambers and handling positrons, the antimatter counterparts of electrons, but the potential benefits could lead to compact colliders for intensive particle research.
Wakefield acceleration involves electrons surfing on a wave of plasma created by another particle beam or laser, achieving acceleration 1,000 times greater than conventional techniques.
Conventional accelerators are prone to sparking at high field strengths, but plasma-filled modules can withstand extreme fields, leading to more efficient particle acceleration.
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