A Hybrid Plasma Accelerator for Therapeutic Electron Beams

Would you like to join us at the University of Manchester to change the future of particle accelerators?

 Using the available studentship, you will explore combining mature electron production technology with new plasma-based acceleration. In this project, you will model a full electron linear accelerator for medical applications to deliver a new generation of radiotherapy called FLASH.

Electron production via photoemission involves a high quantum efficiency metallic or semiconductor cathode that is illuminated by a laser. Electrons leaving the cathode surface are rapidly accelerated within an electric field and focused within a magnetic field. These fields are generated by a combination of an electromagnetic cavity resonator and a pair of solenoid magnets. We call this setup an electron gun or a radiofrequency (RF) gun due to the frequency it typically operates.

The recent developments in experimental capabilities (such as high-power lasers) enable a new type of accelerator using plasmas. The plasma electrons are set in oscillation by a high-power laser field and Coulomb field of the ions, inducing large electric fields, wakefields, in plasma. These fields are actually large enough to achieve orders of magnitude larger acceleration potentially leading to orders of magnitude smaller accelerators. This project will focus on laser-driven plasma acceleration (LWFA) in preparation for future exploitation of the excellent capabilities available and becoming available within the UK. To count a few, FEBE is currently under development in Daresbury Laboratory; Central Laser Facilities, operational in Oxfordshire, SCAPA operational in Scotland and EPAC which is due to come online in 2025.

The core work will include interfacing an existing accelerator design code with a plasma code for start-to-end beam dynamics simulations. This will be done to study beam quality preservation and transport from the electron source into the laser-driven plasma accelerator.

The Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Manchester is home to outstanding research, leading facilities and internationally renowned physicists and astronomers. We pride ourselves on educating the very best students and preparing future leaders in both academia and industry. Our tradition of excellence has been established by many eminent teachers and researchers, including 11 Nobel Prize winners, such as Rutherford, Bohr, Bragg, and Blackett. Our most recent Nobel Laureates are Professors Andre Geim and Sir Konstantin Novoselov, who were awarded the prestigious honour in 2010 for their pioneering discovery of graphene.

The University of Manchester is a member of the Cockcroft Institute, one of two accelerator physics institutes in the UK. The Cockcroft Institute – a collaboration between the universities of Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester and Strathclyde, STFC/ASTeC at Daresbury laboratory, as well as industry and local economy – brings together the best accelerator scientists, engineers, educators and industrialists to conceive, design, construct and use innovative instruments of discovery at all scales and lead the UK’s participation in flagship international experiments. The Institute has nearly 250 staff & students and is supported by a major underpinning research grant from STFC which funds a core group of postdocs and provides Institute members with experimental equipment, software licenses, travel & consumables. CI lecture series, CI/JAI Seminar series, and CI Postgraduate Student Conference are designed specifically to facilitate an engaging environment between the staff and students and students with their peers.

By taking on this post you will also be a member of the Cockcroft Institute. Daily supervision will be provided by the lead supervisor and this will be expanded to regular discussions with the wider collaborative team within the Cockcroft Institute.

Please contact Dr Oznur Apsimon (oznur.apsimon@manchester.ac.uk) for further information and enquiries on detailed tasks and day-to-day activities.

Further reading:

Phys. Rev. E 55, 7565

Front. Phys., 29 September 2020 Sec. Medical Physics and Imaging Volume 8 - 2020

NATURE Physics, VOL 18, MARCH 2022, 316–322