Speaker
Description
The EuPRAXIA (European Plasma Research Accelerator with
eXcellence In Applications) is one of the projects on the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Roadmap of 2021 that aims to develop the first worldwide plasma acceleration user facility. A particle-beam-driven scheme with driver and witness electron bunches will deliver electron bunches with an energy range of GeV to drive a Free Electron Laser (FEL) for user applications. Plasma acceleration plays a key role, as it can sustain accelerating gradients that are orders of magnitude larger than conventional radiofrequency technology, thereby reducing the dimensions and costs of the facility. Numerical simulations are crucial for guiding such a cutting edge project. In this contribution, we provide a detailed examination of the plasma acceleration section of EuPRAXIA Working Point using Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the parameters that will enable the machine to operate effectively. This is achieved through resolution studies and parameter scans using the code FBPIC. We will use starting parameters derived from Start-to-End simulations, designed to accurately reproduce the EuPRAXIA beam line. Our study aims to understand how witness bunch density modulations (both transverse and longitudinal) can affect its dynamics during plasma acceleration simulations, including plasma ramps, avoiding misleading results caused by numerical errors.
