Experimental Demonstration of Wake-Field Effects in Dielectric Structures

We have measured the wake fields induced by short, intense relativistic electron bunches in a slow-wave structure consisting of a dielectric-lined tube, as a test of the dielectric wake-field acceleration mechanism. These fields were used to accelerate a second electron bunch which followed the driving bunch at a variable distance. Results are presented for different dielectrics and beam intensities, and are compared with theoretical predictions.