{
  "abstract": "The AWAKE experiment at CERN uses high-energy proton bunches to drive plasma wakefields capable of accelerating electron bunches up to hundreds of GeV in a single plasma. Realising this potential requires a plasma source that can extend to tens of metres while maintaining high longitudinal uniformity and reproducibility. Towards this goal, we report on the first experimental characterisation and beam-based validation of a 10-metre-long pulsed-DC discharge plasma source (DPS) used as an alternative to the laser-ionised rubidium vapour plasma source (VPS). The DPS reliably delivered plasma densities in three noble gases (He, Ar, Xe) at electron densities between 10$^{14}$ and 10$^{15}$ cm$^{-3}$. Proton bunch self-modulation was observed with all three gases, and the resulting modulation frequency was used as a beam-based diagnostic of the plasma density, showing good agreement with laboratory interferometry measurements. The event-to-event modulation frequency was demonstrated to be reproducible to within 0.63%, comparable to that of the VPS. These results establish the DPS as a valid alternative plasma source for beam-driven wakefield experiments, and support its further development towards longer plasma lengths. The present design is tailored to AWAKE requirements, but the underlying discharge concept provides a route to long, reproducible plasma sources with straightforward density control through discharge-beam timing for other beam-plasma experiments.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.08551",
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "C. Amoedo"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Lopes"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. E. Torrado"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Silva"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Muggli"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Verra"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Turner"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Zevi Della Porta"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Bergamaschi"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Clairembaud"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Mezger"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Pannell"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Z. van Gils"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Gschwendtner"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Sublet"
    },
    {
      "name": "the AWAKE Collaboration"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8hpk3egkw1zg6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.08551",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "8hpk3egkw1zg6",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.08551",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.acc-ph"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.plasm-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3106|Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212027318",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.08551",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-08",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8hpk3egkw1zg6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:52Z",
      "native_id": "2609.08551",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.08551"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.acc-ph",
      "subfield": "applied-instrumentation"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.plasm-ph",
      "subfield": "plasma"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Demonstration of a 10-metre-long discharge plasma source for plasma wakefield acceleration",
  "title_text": "Demonstration of a 10-metre-long discharge plasma source for plasma wakefield acceleration",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:52Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8hpk3egkw1zg6",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}