In a significant breakthrough, scientists have achieved a new record in proton acceleration using a compact laser plasma accelerator (CLAPA). This innovative technology has successfully doubled the proton energies to 150 MeV, surpassing the previous record. The research team, led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), is now aiming for an even higher energy of 200 MeV.
Compact Laser Plasma Accelerator (CLAPA)
The CLAPA is a compact accelerator that uses laser pulses to accelerate protons, offering a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional accelerators, which are often kilometers long and expensive to build and maintain. The key advancement in the CLAPA is the use of an innovative method that significantly increases the acceleration of protons via laser pulse.