New Method Improves Beam Analysis in Plasma Accelerators
A recent paper published in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams, led by former LIV.DAT student Monika Yadav, details a novel approach to enhance the analysis of high-energy electron beams within plasma wakefield accelerators. This research could significantly impact the future of particle physics experiments, including those at facilities like SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's FACET-II.
In plasma wakefield acceleration, high-energy electron beams interact with plasma, generating betatron radiation. This radiation provides valuable information about the beam's behaviour and characteristics. However, accurately extracting this information from the radiation spectra is challenging.
The paper focuses on improving the reconstruction of beam parameters, such as spot size, energy, and emittance, from the measured betatron radiation. The authors explore and compare two advanced techniques: maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and machine learning.
MLE is a statistical method used to estimate the parameters of a probability distribution based on observed data. In this context, researchers use MLE to determine the beam parameters that are most likely to have produced the measured radiation spectra.
The study also employs machine learning algorithms to analyse the complex relationship between the radiation spectra and the underlying beam properties. By training these algorithms on simulated data, researchers can improve the accuracy and efficiency of beam parameter reconstruction.
The paper demonstrates that both MLE and machine learning can effectively reconstruct beam parameters from betatron radiation spectra. The authors highlight that these methods can achieve high accuracy, even for very small beam sizes (less than 10 μm). This capability is crucial for understanding and optimizing beam propagation in plasma wakefield accelerators.
The improved accuracy in beam analysis offered by these techniques has significant implications for future research in particle physics. It could lead to more precise control and manipulation of electron beams in advanced accelerators, potentially paving the way for new discoveries.
The research also emphasizes the importance of advanced Compton spectrometers in accurately measuring betatron radiation. These spectrometers play a vital role in providing the data necessary for the reconstruction methods to succeed.
This research represents a significant step forward in the field of beam diagnostics. By providing more accurate and reliable methods for analyzing beam parameters, it contributes to the advancement of plasma wakefield accelerator technology and its potential applications in particle physics.
The full paper can be found here
*Feature image: Left: Gammas (green) incident on a beryllium target scatter forward Compton electrons (red), through the spectrometer magnet. Right: The electrons are bent in a sextupole field and collimated at the focal plane, where a scintillator is located, with the energy-dependent position on the screen.