The LhARA initiative; harnessing laser-driven ions for biomedical application

Abstract submitted to ​Applying Laser-driven Particle Acceleration (ALPA) at ​SPIE Optics and Optoelectronics 2027

Kenneth Long for the collaboration

Abstract

The Laser-hybrid Accelerator for Radiobilogical Applications is conceived as a uniquely-flexible facility dedicated to the study of the biological impact of proton and ion beams. It is the central pilar of the LhARA collaboration's initiative to:

• Deliver a systematic and definitive radiation biology programme;
• Prove the feasibility of laser-driven hybrid acceleration; and
• Lay the foundations for the transformation of clinical practice of ion beam therapy.

The development of a systematic programme of radiobiology centred on the proof-of-principal beam-line, "PoPLaR", on the SCAPA facility at Strathclyde University is the second pilar of the LhARA intiative. The third pilar of the initiative is the creation of an eco-system in which co-creation, co-investment and international collaboration deliver the technologies required to transform ion-beam therapy.

The design of the LhARA facility will be described and the status of the PoPLaR beam line will be summarised. Progress in the development of the industrial partnership will also be reviewed.

Summary for display in the program

Laser-driven ion beams have significant potential for future applications in radiobiology and particle therapy, but their large divergence makes efficient capture and transport challenging. A Gabor lens offers a symmetric focusing solution using the electric field of a confined electron plasma. This contribution presents experimental progress at Swansea University in generating and stabilising the plasma required for such a lens, including improvements achieved using oscillating electric fields and a dimple potential. Complementary WarpX simulations support the development of a practical focusing system for applications such as LhARA.

Biographical information

Calvin Dyson is a third-year PhD researcher at Imperial College London and a member of the LhARA (Laser-hybrid Accelerator for Radiobiological Applications) collaboration under the supervision of Professor Kenneth Long. His research spans several areas across LhARA, with a primary focus on understanding and modelling the experimental results from the Gabor lens testbench at Swansea University. This involves employing WarpX to investigate electron plasma confinement using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. His other contributions within the collaboration include beamline optimisation and characterisation for the PoPLaR experiment, as well as simulations and data analysis for ion-acoustic diagnostics. His research contributes to the development and characterisation of the focusing technologies and diagnostics required to realise LhARA's radiobiological applications.

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