Acceleration of Electrons by the Interaction of a Bunched Electron Beam with a Plasma

A new scheme for accelerating electrons, employing a bunched relativistic electron beam in a cold plasma, is analyzed. We show that energy gradients can exceed 1 GeV/m and that the driven electrons can be accelerated from γ₀mc² to 3γ₀mc² before the driving beam slows down enough to degrade the plasma wave. If the driving electrons are removed before they cause the collapse of the plasma wave, energies up to 4γ₀ᶜmc² are possible. A noncollinear injection scheme is suggested in order that the driving electrons can be removed.