TRANSVERSE FOCUSER FOR OPTICAL ACCELERATION

We describe a novel design of an inverse Cerenkov accelerator for prei njected relativistic electrons. It utilizes synchronous linearly polar ized input pulses focused by relatively small opposing sections of a c onical mirror. The focal volume remains centered on the acceleration p ath throughout its entire length. Several advantages over existing des igns are described, including, for any given wavelength, much larger a cceleration areas that allow for much simpler preoptics and electron i njection geometries and eventual self-compensation of nonlinear optica l effects and compensation of Cerenkov material dispersion. (C) 1998 O ptical Society of America.