Demonstration of acceleration of relativistic electrons at a dielectric microstructure using femtosecond laser pulses

Acceleration of electrons using laser-driven dielectric microstructures is a promising technology for the miniaturization of particle accelerators. Achieving the desired GV m(-1) accelerating gradients is possible only with laser pulse durations shorter than similar to 1 ps. In this Letter, we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of acceleration of relativistic electrons at a dielectric microstructure driven by femtosecond duration laser pulses. Using this technique, an electron accelerating gradient of 690 +/- 100 MV m(-1) was measured-a record for dielectric laser accelerators. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America