Max Planck Institute for Physics
High-precision design for scientific success.
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The Challenge
AWAKE is a groundbreaking experiment at CERN that aims to revolutionise how we accelerate particles. Traditional particle accelerators, like the 27-kilometre Large Hadron Collider, are vast and expensive. AWAKE is exploring a new approach that fits into just 12 metres of tunnel — opening the door to smaller, more cost-effective designs for the future.
How It Works
AWAKE uses a technique called plasma wakefield acceleration. Inside a 10-metre-long plasma cell, rubidium vapour is heated and then blasted by a high-power laser, creating a plasma — a charged soup of ions and electrons.
A beam of high-energy protons follows the laser, travelling through the plasma and creating a powerful wake, much like a boat carving through water.
Electrons are then “surfed” into this wake, where they are rapidly accelerated to high energies. By measuring these electrons, researchers can track the effectiveness of the plasma wake and refine the technology.
Our Contribution
Following the success of the first-generation AWAKE experiment, we partnered with the Max Planck Institute for Physics to design, develop, manufacture, and install the upgraded 12-metre plasma cell.
The new system introduces the ability to vary the temperature — and thus the plasma density — at different points along the cell. These sharp density changes help to sustain the wakefield for longer distances, enabling even greater acceleration of electrons.
Our work has helped open up new experimental possibilities, bringing the future of compact particle accelerators a step closer.