Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

A laser-plasma-based acceleration system includes a focusing element and a laser pulse emission directing a laser beam to the focusing element to such that laser pulses transform into a focused beam and a chamber defining a nozzle having a throat and an exit orifice, emitting a critical density range gas jet from the exit orifice for laser wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. the critical density range gas jet intersects the focused beam at an angle and in proximity to the exit orifice of the nozzle to define a point of intersection between the focused beam and the critical density range gas jet. In intersection with the critical density range gas jet, the pulsed focused beam drives a laser plasma wakefield relativistic electron beam. A corresponding method of laser-plasma-based acceleration is also described. The critical density range may include 2×1020 cm−3 to 5×1021 cm−3.