KALDERA
KALDERA
KALDERA is DESYs new flagship laser to drive our next-generation laser-plasma accelerators. KALDERA will deliver ultrafast laser pulses of 100 TW peak power at up to 1 kHz repetition rate. Initiated by Wim Leemans, Accelerator Division Director, the project started in 2020. The laser is currently under development.
To explain the vision behind KALDERA we created an animated website for the general public, which you can find here:
KALDERA Project
KALDERA Project
Today’s laser-plasma accelerators operate at comparably low repetition rates (1 Hz) and often the electron beam properties vary significantly from shot to shot. Both prevent plasma accelerators from driving real-world applications. To address these issues, we are building the KALDERA laser aiming for 100 TW peak power laser pulses (3 Joule in 30 femtoseconds) at up to 1 kHz repetition rate at kW-level average power. The very high repetition rates will enable us to use active feedback techniques as they are deployed at every modern accelerator world-wide and stabilize the performance of both the laser and the plasma electron beam.
KALDERA Laser
KALDERA Laser
KALDERA is based on Ti:Sapphire technology and the chirped pulse amplification architecture, which poses several technology challenges to be met, including (I) pump laser design, (II) amplifier design, (III) pulse compressors, but also (IV) control system and machine protection, all working at kW average power. KALDERA is being developed in three phases increasing pulse rate and repetition rate with each step.
KALDERA Electrons
KALDERA Electrons
Besides the high-quality drive laser pulse, the design of the plasma target, and meticulous control over the laser-plasma interaction are equally important, to generate competitive plasma electron beams.
As a first step, KALDERA will drive the MAGMA laser-plasma accelerator, currently under commissioning, and deliver 500 mJ pulses at 100 Hz repetition rate to generate electron beams on the 100 MeV level. We will use experimental data to decode the mechanisms of even the smallest variations in electron beam parameters and then take advantage of KALDERA’s high repetition rate to stabilize the LPA performance.
KALDERA Laser Lab
KALDERA Laser Lab
KALDERA is located in its dedicated lab, a 400 square meter ISO5/6 clean room, temperature stabilized to ±0.1°C. Here, we greatly benefit from DESY’s expertise and the know-how of our technical groups, operating world-class research infrastructure for international users. The lab is in operation since autumn 2022.