A proof-of-principle experiment of laser wakefield acceleration

Abstract
A principle of the laser wakefield particle acceleration has been tested by the Nd : glass laser system with the peak power of 30 TW and the pulse duration of 1 ps. The particle acceleration up to 18 MeV/c has been demonstrated by injecting 1.0 MeV/c electrons emitted from a solid target by an intense laser impact. The corresponding field gradient achieves 1.7 GeV/m.