Industrial production of high-efficiency power sources
High-gradient X-band accelerating technology has gained momentum in applications to particle accelerators thanks to its compactness, cost, and high performance. These aspects are crucial for the small-scale machines used in medical, industrial, and scientific applications.
Klystrons with improved efficiency are of great interest in this context not just due to the reduced energy consumption but also because of the potential reduction of installation cost (High-Voltage modulators), exploitation cost (cooling and ventilation, klystron lifetime) and improved performance (peak RF power and repetition rate).
Next generation Compact Light sources, Inverse Compton Sources (ICS) and Flash Therapy are considered as strategic opportunities to ensure growth with a balance between scientific and industrial market.
High-repetition high-power laser driver systems
The utility of laser-driven accelerators in medical and industrial applications is intrinsically linked to the repetition rate and average power output of these sources, which in turn depends on the efficiency of the laser driver systems.
The emergence of Diode Pumped Solid State Lasers (DPSSL) has significantly improved wall plug efficiencies with potential for further enhancements. Concurrently, DPSSL systems have seen a noteworthy increase in both repetition rates and average power outputs. However, substantial developments are still required to achieve the desired 100 Hz repetition rate and kilowatt-level average power at petawatt peak powers necessary for driving user-centric accelerators.
PACRI will leverage additional institutional and industrial funding to expedite the progression to high Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and the prototyping stages essential for the commercial exploitation of these technologies.
Ultra-fast synchronisation
The operational parameters of high-repetition rate plasma accelerators necessitate synchronisation capabilities in the femtosecond regime, thereby mandating the integration of beyond state-of-the-art synchronisation technologies. This necessitates the employment of lasers meticulously timed to an external reference in conjunction with ultra-fast electronics.
Such a sophisticated synchronisation framework is expected to find application across a number of technological innovations, including laser heating apparatus, laser-based vibration monitoring systems, laser wire technology, ultra-precise timing reference mechanisms, femtosecond stabilisation circuits, and more.
Moreover, exceedingly low stabilisation tolerance is required, underlining the critical importance of ultra-fast stabilisation. This is expected to drive new technologies capable of pre-emptive action prior to the breach of any tolerance thresholds.