Miniaturization techniques for accelerators

The possibility of laser driven accelerators [R.L. Byer et al., "Progress of the Laser Electron Accelerator Project at Stanford University: PAC\´01, Chicago, June 2001] suggests the need for new structures based on micromachining and integrated circuit technology because of the comparable scales. Thus, we are exploring fully integrated structures including sources, optics (for both light and particle) and acceleration in a common format - an accelerator-on-chip (AOC). Tests suggest a number of preferred materials and techniques but no technical or fundamental roadblocks at scales of order 1μm or larger.