The Helmholtz Virtual Institute (VI) on Plasma Wakefield Acceleration of Highly Relativistic Electrons with FLASH brings together leading accelerator centres in Germany and worldwide to address topics at the forefront of accelerator research. The VI will enhance the prospects of the field of plasma-based acceleration by bringing together many of the world’s leading laboratories in the area of beam- and laser-driven-plasma acceleration. It builds on the establishment of a comprehensive research topic in Hamburg under the auspices of the LAOLA collaboration and embedded into the Helmholtz Accelerator Research & Development (ARD) initiative. A significant fraction of the resources of the Alexander von Humboldt chair held by B. Foster are being devoted to research areas contributing directly to the VI. The programme of the VI benefits from unique facilities and experience at the partner labs,
DESY, LBNL and SLAC, to make significant progress in the task of accelerating bunches of particles with good beam quality to high energies. The understanding of the basic mechanisms via a number of key targeted experiments involving high-quality beams using state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques and high-precision timing forms the core of the VI’s programme. Central to the programme is the design and construction of a new facility, FASHForward at DESY. Exploiting our expertise on simulation of the basic processes will also form a key part of the VI’s activities. The additional expertise on lasers at the University of Hamburg rounds off the capabilities which are centred on the unique and sophisticated electron accelerators and Free Electron Lasers at DESY.

Plasma wakefield acceleration

The Helmholtz Virtual Institute (VI) on plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA) of highly relativistic electrons brings together leading accelerator centres in Germany and worldwide to address topics at the forefront of accelerator research.