Nanophotonic electron accelerator: A review of particle accelerator technology

Particle accelerators are indispensable tools in various industries, spanning a wide range of research fields such as nuclear and particle physics. They are particularly valuable in the medical sector for applications like medical imaging, radiotherapy and tumor treatment. Currently, the largest and most powerful particle accelerator is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, a 27-kilometer-long ring-shaped tunnel that accelerates particles, such as protons, to near-light speeds and collides them.  While the LHC represents the pinnacle of accelerator technology, there is significant interest in developing compact particle accelerators that can fit within buildings, laboratories, or even on tabletops. However, even smaller accelerators often occupy several square meters of valuable space and may suffer from performance limitations. Not all applications require massive machines like the LHC, and more compact solutions could fulfill many needs efficiently.

Furthermore, a breakthrough in this field has been achieved by a team of laser physicists from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), who successfully demonstrated the first nanophotonic electron accelerator. This nanoscale device has been used to accelerate electrons, achieving a remarkable energy gain.  What makes this development truly exciting is the unprecedented compactness of the nanophotonic accelerator - it is so small that it fits on a one-cent coin, making it the smallest particle accelerator currently available. Often referred to as a "particle accelerator on a chip," this technology holds immense potential, including applications in advanced cancer radiation therapies.