Mid-infrared dielectric laser acceleration in a silicon dual pillar structure; Article in Optics Express
Dielectric laser accelerators have so far been operated with lasers in the near-infrared range. Using a longer wavelength should allow higher electron transmission and a higher damage threshold. In a cooperation with the university and the Fraunhofer Institute in Jena, we are demonstrating acceleration with 10 micrometer light in a silicon structure. The damage threshold is an order of magnitude higher than in the near-infrared, which should enable very high acceleration gradients in future structures.