Laser accelerators

Laser accelerators are characterized, by their mode of operation, into media, far field, and near field accelerators. The first category, media accelerators, include the inverse Cherenkov effect accelerator, the plasma focus accelerator, and the beat wave accelerator (BWA). The second category, far field accelerators, include the two wave device and the inverse free electron accelerator (IFEI). The third category, near field accelerators, includes conventional linac scaled to small dimensions, dielectric sheets, small holes in dielectric cylinders, and gratings. An example from each category is given; namely: (1) the BWA; (2) the IFEL; and (3) the linac scaled to small dimensions and powered by a free electron laser (FEL). Grating accelerators are also discussed.