CERN Accelerating science

The Advanced Proton Driven Plasma Wakefield Acceleration Experiment (AWAKE) aims at studying plasma wakefield generation and electron acceleration driven by proton bunches. It is a proof-of-principle R&D; experiment at CERN and the world's first proton driven plasma wakefield acceleration experiment. The AWAKE experiment is currently being installed in the former CNGS facility and will use the 400 GeV/c proton beam bunches from the SPS to drive the wakefields in the plasma. The first experiments will focus on the self-modulation instability of the long (rms ~12 cm) proton bunch in the plasma. These experiments are planned for the end of 2016. Later, in 2017/2018, low energy (~15 MeV) electrons will be externally injected to sample the wakefields and be accelerated with GeV/m gradients. The main goals of the experiment will be summarized. A summary of the AWAKE design and construction status will be presented.