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<p>(Left): Two deformable mirrors. In addition to arrival time and pulse length control of both beam lines, these mirrors allow for independently shaping the focal spot mode, which is critical for optimized staged acceleration. (Right) In the newly-commissioned second beam line, the laser beam travels through the large white tubes into the laser-plasma accelerator vacuum system. Marlene Turner (foreground) and postdoctoral scholar Alex Picksley check for alignment. (Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab)</p>

Upgraded Laser Facility Paves the Way for Next-Generation Particle Accelerators

Berkeley Lab researchers have completed a major expansion of one of the world’s most powerful laser systems, creating new opportunities in accelerator research. The expansion created a second beamline for the petawatt laser at the Berkeley Lab Laser Accelerator (BELLA) Center, enabling the development of next-generation particle accelerators for applications in science, medicine, security, and industry.