Dielectric Laser Accelerators: Designs, Experiments, and Applications

Novel laser-powered accelerating structures at the miniaturized scale of an optical wavelength (∼1μm) open a pathway to high repetition rate, attosecond scale electron bunches that can be accelerated with gradients exceeding 1 GeV/m. Although the theoretical and computational study of dielectric laser accelerators dates back many decades, recently the first experimental realizations of this novel class of accelerators have been demonstrated. We review recent developments in fabrication, testing, and demonstration of these micron scale devices. In particular, prospects for applications of this accelerator technology are evaluated.