STELLA experiment: Design and model predictions

The STaged ELectron Laser Acceleration (STELLA) experiment will be one of the first to examine the critical issue of staging the laser acceleration process. The BNL inverse free electron laser (IFEL) will serve as a prebuncher to generate ∼1-μm long microbunches. These microbunches will be accelerated by an inverse Cerenkov acceleration (ICA) stage. A comprehensive model of the STELLA experiment is described. This model includes the IFEL prebunching, drift and focusing of the microbunches into the ICA stage, and their subsequent acceleration. The model predictions will be presented, including the results of a system error study to determine the sensitivity to uncertainties in various system parameters.