Vacuum Laser Acceleration Experiment Perspective at Brookhaven National Lab-accelerator Test Facility

This first stage experiment is a Proof-of-Principle to support our novel vacuum laser acceleration (VLA) theory, published previously. Simulations show that based on current experimental conditions at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Accelerator Test Facility (ATF), an electron beam with initial energy of 15 MeV can get net energy gain from an intense CO2 laser beam. The difference of electron beam energy spread is observable by the ATF beam line diagnostics system. Further this energy spread expansion effect increases along with the laser intensity increasing. The proposal has been approved by the ATF committee, and this experiment will be the next project.