New Trends in Laser Wake Field Acceleration and Related Secondary Particles Generation

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “New Trends in Laser Wake Field Acceleration and Related Secondary Particles Generation” examines the current status of laser wake field acceleration, with a view on the landscape of multiple directions we are exploring so as to optimize the acceleration process aimed at generating either high-brightness or high-charge-density beams. New ideas and technical advancement, both on the experimental and simulation sides, have greatly improved the capability of stabilizing and fine tuning laser–plasma interaction, generating electron beams with enough quality to drive a free electron laser or enough charge to enable high-flux secondary particle generation. The generation of secondary particles (e.g., X/g photons, positron beams, muons, neutrons, etc.) is of great importance for its research, societal and industrial impact.

We foresee contributions on the current status of high-acceleration gradient schemes driven by ultrashort pulses, trains of pulses or few-cycle pulses, also at kHz repetition rates. Explorations of bridges with particle-driven wake field acceleration through the hybrid LWFA/PWFA scheme are also warmly welcome for this Special Issue. 

We are also looking at contributions covering progress in new particle injection mechanisms, with emphasis on schemes that are capable of generating ultra-low-emittance electron beams, attosecond beams or trains, or high-charge injection schemes for secondary sources generation.

The application of the generated electron or positron beams on secondary particle generation is of great importance for its research or societal impact. Review or research contributions on X/gamma photon generation through Thomson/Compton, Betatron or Bremsstrahlung mechanisms or positrons as well as neutron and muon generations are thus also of interest for this Special Issue. 

Dr. Paolo Tomassini
Dr. Vojtech Horny
Dr. Domenico Doria
Dr. Luca Labate
Guest Editors

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