Exploring the shortest particle accelerator bunches with laser and terahertz techniques

Ultrashort electron bunches approaching the femtosecond regime and below are in extreme demand by advanced accelerator technology, with examples ranging from free-electron lasers and ultrafast electron diffraction to injection into laser-plasma wakefields to deliver the next generation of high-gradient ultra-compact accelerators. To exploit such short bunches, the ability to accurately determine their longitudinal profile is essential, yet this remains a significant challenge with existing detection techniques limited by bandwidth, spectral response, or destructive measurement. This project will address this challenge by developing novel techniques combining laser and terahertz (THz) technology to provide bunch diagnostic tools capable of resolving the shortest particle bunches with unprecedented precision.