The AWAKE Run 2 programme and beyond

TL;DR

The AWAKE Run 2 programme aims to demonstrate stable plasma wakefield acceleration using high-energy protons, with goals to develop scalable plasma sources and produce electron beams for future particle physics experiments.

Contribution

This paper outlines the objectives and plans of the AWAKE Run 2 programme to advance proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration technology.

Findings

Demonstrated electron acceleration to 2 GeV in 10 m plasma during Run 1

Goals to achieve stable gradients of 0.5-1 GV/m in Run 2

Development of scalable plasma sources for extended acceleration

Abstract

Plasma wakefield acceleration is a promising technology to reduce the size of particle accelerators. Use of high energy protons to drive wakefields in plasma has been demonstrated during Run 1 of the AWAKE programme at CERN. Protons of energy 400 GeV drove wakefields that accelerated electrons to 2 GeV in under 10 m of plasma. The AWAKE collaboration is now embarking on Run 2 with the main aims to demonstrate stable accelerating gradients of 0.5-1 GV/m, preserve emittance of the electron bunches during acceleration and develop plasma sources scalable to 100s of metres and beyond. By the end of Run 2, the AWAKE scheme should be able to provide electron beams for particle physics experiments and several possible experiments have already been evaluated. This article summarises the programme of AWAKE Run 2 and how it will be achieved as well as the possible application of the AWAKE scheme to novel particle physics experiments.