The generation and use of THz radiation for electron acceleration and manipulation of electron bunches has progressed over the last decade to a level where practical devices for THz guns, acceleration and a wide range of beam manipulations have become possible. Here, we present our progress on generation of single-cycle THz pulses at the two-hundred micro-Joule level to drive advanced acceleration and beam manipulation devices. Specifically, we use pulses centered at 0.3 THz to power a segmented terahertz electron accelerator and manipulator (STEAM) capable of performing multiple high-field operations on the 6D-phase-space of ultrashort electron bunches. Using this STEAM device, we demonstrate record THz-acceleration of >60 keV, streaking with <10 𝑓s resolution, focusing with >2 kT/m strength, compression to ~100 𝑓s as well as real-time switching between these modes of operation. The STEAM device demonstrates the feasibility of THz-based electron accelerators, manipulators and diagnostic tools enabling science beyond current resolution frontiers with transformative impact.
Towards High-power Single-cycle THz Laser for Initiating High-field-sensitive Phenomena