Laser Plasma Accelerator Experiment Schematic (IMAGE) DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Caption Schematic of the first experiment to achieve staging of laser plasma accelerators (LPAs) with independent laser pulses: a pulse from laser 1 (at left) creates a plasma wakefield in the stage 1 LPA, a gas jet. The resulting electron beam is focused by a capillary-discharge plasma lens and then penetrates a moving tape. Almost simultaneously, an incoming pulse from laser 2 strikes the tape and creates a plasma mirror, which combines the laser beam and electron beam. Entering stage 2, a capillary-discharge LPA, the second laser pulse creates a wakefield in the plasma which further accelerates the electron beam; downstream diagnostics (at right) measure the beam. Credit Berkeley Lab Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.