The plasma source for the accelerator
Researchers have used AI to control beams for the next generation of smaller, cheaper accelerators for research, medical and industrial applications.
Experiments led by Imperial College London researchers, using the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Central Laser Facility (CLF), showed that an algorithm was able to tune the complex parameters involved in controlling the next generation of plasma-based particle accelerators.
The techniques we have developed will be instrumental in getting the most out of a new generation of advanced plasma accelerator facilities under construction within the UK and worldwide. Dr Rob Shalloo
The algorithm was able to optimize the accelerator much more quickly than a human operator, and could even outperform experiments on similar laser systems.