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

**Authors:** Peyman Yousefi, Norbert Sch\"onenberger, Joshua McNeur, Martin, Koz\'ak, Uwe Niedermayer, Peter Hommelhoff

arXiv: 1905.05489 · 2019-05-22

## 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.

## Key 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.

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/1905.05489