High Gradient Accelerators at THz Frequencies

Electron beams are vital tools for scientific discovery, providing unique probes, sources of radiation and opening windows into the realm of high energy physics. To achieve these feats accelerator physicists aim to improve beam brightness, spatial and temporal coherence, and achieve higher energies on smaller scales. The use of THz radiation to manipulate and accelerate electron beams is dramatically changing what is possible with the next generation of accelerators. We aim to explore new accelerating structures designed to withstand high gradients, power them with the newest generation of THz sources and lay the foundation for THz accelerator technology. This research will provide answers to fundamental questions about the limits of accelerating gradients and improve understanding for the role of frequency, pulse length and stored energy in plasma breakdown. In this presentation we will review recent results, report on high gradient tests with metallic structures, explore advanced manufacturing techniques for structures and discuss near term applications for THz accelerator technology.