Minutes of the CLIC Meeting - 5 September 2003

Plasmas can sustain very large electric fields that can be used to accelerate particles to high energies in a short, high-gradient plasma section. Recent experiments using the 28.5 GeV, 700 micron-long (sigma-z) bunches produced by the SLAC linac have shown acceleration of electrons and positrons in a 1.4 meter long, pre-ionized plasma. According to linear theory and numerical simulations, the accelerating gradient can be increased by shortening the bunch length. Experiments with 100 micron-long electron bunches have shown that short bunches can also create their own plasma by field ionization of the surrounding vapor. Experiments that will take place this October using 50 to 12 micron-long bunches to accelerate particles in multi-GeV/m, short plasma cells will be discussed, together with the longer bunch results. Requirements for future experiments and for a possible plasma afterburner for a high energy linear collider will also be discussed.

copy of his transparencies (not available yet)