Dielectric-laser electron acceleration in a dual pillar grating with a distributed Bragg reflector

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel dielectric laser accelerator design with a distributed Bragg reflector that enhances electric field coupling and acceleration efficiency, achieving high gradients for sub-relativistic electrons.

Contribution

The study presents a new dual pillar grating structure with a DBR that improves coupling efficiency and acceleration gradients compared to previous designs.

Findings

57% increase in coupling efficiency

Achieves up to 200 MeV/m theoretical gradient

Realized 133 MeV/m in practice

Abstract

We report on the efficacy of a novel design for dielectric laser accelerators by adding a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) to a dual pillar grating accelerating structure. This mimics a double-sided laser illumination, resulting in an enhanced longitudinal electric field while reducing the deflecting transverse effects, when compared to single-sided illumination. We improve the coupling efficiency of the incident electric field into the accelerating mode by 57 percent. The 12 $\mu$m long structures accelerate sub-relativistic 28 keV electrons with gradients of up to 200 MeV/m in theory and 133 MeV/m in practice. Our work shows how lithographically produced nano-structures help to make novel laser accelerators more efficient.