• K.M. Krushelnick, V. Chvykov, F.J. Dollar, G. Kalintchenko, A. Maksimchuk, T. Matsuoka, C.S. McGuffey, W. Schumaker, A.G.R. Thomas, V. Yanovsky
  University of Michigan, FOCUS Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Recent experimental results will be discussed with regard to the use of the 300 TW, 30 fsec HERCULES laser system at the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science at Michigan to generate GeV range electron beams using Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA). The electron beam quality is shown to be improved substantially using gas mixtures- causing an increase in beam charge and a decrease in emittance. The dynamics of the acceleration process are also determined by measurements of spatially resolved scattered laser radiation and the use of femtosecond optical probing techniques.