Cylindrically Symmetric Strong Focusing of positive particle beams

Friday 11 Sept 2026, 09:00 → 18:00 Europe/London

Lecture Theatre (Institute of Physics)

The unique properties of laser-driven proton and ion beams to transform particle beam therapy in automated, compact, high-throughput facilities will be discussed in the ‘Charged Particles for Cancer Therapy' workshop series.

This, the second workshop of the series, will:

• Review the state of the art in the capture, focusing and transport of laser-driven proton and ion beams; 

• Discuss the various techniques that have been proposed to provide the strong, cylindrically-symmetric focusing required efficiently to capture and transport laser-driven ion beams; and

• Identify promising techniques that might form the basis of collaborative efforts to realise a practical, sustainable, and cost-effective solution to the delivery of laser-driven proton and ion beams for science, innovation and society.

 

The workshop will include several overview talks followed by an afternoon small-group discussion on key topics.  The discussion at the workshop and the conclusions drawn will be documented in a 'White Paper' that will be published to provide the basis and underlying strategy for the future development of laser-driven charged particle beams.  This workshop will call on scientific, industry leaders in the field.

The first workshop in the series was entitled "International strategic review workshop; what will be the unique advantages of laser driven charged particles" and took place at Imperial College London on 27Feb26.  Future workshops will address the key scientific and technological challenges that define the LhARA initiative.  The following workshops are presently under development:

• Novel time-resolved and high-resolution imaging; and
• Biology, measurement, simulation and interpretation of ion beams.

 

Remote participants may join via the ZOOM link:

https://cern.zoom.us/j/65220222500?pwd=l9qNq2m04mxWHXojv428VFdGbobe00.1 

10:00 → 10:10 Orientation: Welcome and introduction

10:00 Slides

Speaker: Kenneth Long (STFC)

00-2026-09-11-LONG-Welcome.pptx

10:10 → 10:45 Focusing the Beam We Actually Have Experience with PMQ Doublets at LION and (eventually useful) Lessons for Cylindrically Symmetric Focusing

Convener: Colin Whyte (University of Strathclyde)

10:10 Conventional focussing; Lessons for Cylindrically Symmetric Focusing

Speaker: Prof. Joerg Schreiber (LMU)

20260911_Schreiber_CylFocWS_London.pptx

10:45 → 11:20 Novel concepts: Plasma optics

Convener: Prof. William Bertsche (University of Manchester)

10:45 Plasma focusing

Speaker: Prof. Karl Lindstrøm (University of Oslo)

Plasma lenses for particle beams (Lindstrøm, 11 Sep 2026, IoP workshop London) animated.pdf

Plasma lenses for particle beams (Lindstrøm, 11 Sep 2026, IoP workshop London).pdf

11:20 → 11:45 Breaks: Coffee

11:45 → 12:20 Novel concepts: Hybrid focusing

Convener: Charlotte Palmer (Queen's University Belfast)

11:45 Hybrid focusing

Speaker: Satya Kar (QUB)

12:20 → 12:55 Novel concepts: Simulations of sub-relativistic ion beam-plasma interactions

Convener: Bob Bingham (STFC)

12:20 Simulations of sub-relativistic ion beam-plasma interactions

Speaker: Martin King (University of Strathclyde)

12:55 → 14:00 Breaks: Lunch

14:00 → 15:30 The way forward: Small, break-out, group discussions

Topics:
* Optic alignment
* Stability (jitter)
* Beam parameters from laser plasma (unique challenges of capturing)
* Beam measurement (phase space characterisation before and after focusing)
* High rep-rate operation (gas and head load, component degradation)

15:30 → 16:00 The way forward: Table summaries

Topics:
* Optic alignment
* Stability (jitter)
* Beam parameters from laser plasma (unique challenges of capturing)
* Beam measurement (phase space characterisation before and after focusing)
* High rep-rate operation (gas and head load, component degradation)

16:00 → 16:30 Orientation: Wrap up session outlining next steps and output (white paper)