Beam-driven dielectric wakefield accelerating structure as a ThZ radiation source

Abstract

Experimental work is planned to study the performance of a beam-driven cylindrical dielectric wakefield accelerating structure as a source of THz coherent Cerenkov radiation (CCR). For an appropriate choice of dielectric tube geometry and driving electron bunch parameters, the device operates in a single-mode regime, producing radiation in the THz range. This source can potentially produce high power levels relative to currently available sources, with ∼50 μJ radiated energy per pulse achievable using the electron beam currently in operation at the Neptune advanced accelerator laboratory at UCLA (∼13 MeV beam energy, ∼200 μm RMS bunch length, ∼500 pC bunch charge). Preparations underway for installation of the experiment are discussed.