Update on the ATF inverse Cerenkov laser acceleration experiment

The inverse Cerenkev acceleration (ICA) experiment is being performed an the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) located at Brookhaven National Laboratory. This facility presently features a 50 MeV e-beam and a /spl sim/10 GW peak power CO/sub 2/ laser. In the experiment 1.7 atm of H/sub 2/ gas is used to slow the phase velocity of the light wave to match the electron velocity. The Cerenkov angle is 20 mrad and the interaction length is 20 cm. A peak energy gain of /spl sim/12 MeV is predicted assuming 5-GW of laser peak power delivered to the interaction region. An update of the experiment's progress is presented.<
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