---
title: "World Record For Compact ‘Tabletop’ Particle Accelerator"
description: "Researchers have accelerated subatomic particles to the highest energies ever recorded from a compact accelerator by using one of the most powerful lasers in the world."
date: "2014-12-09"
modified: "2015-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Matthew Lincoln"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/justmatt"
url: "https://futurism.com/world-record-compact-tabletop-particle-accelerator"
categories:
  - "Physics"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "physics"
---

# World Record For Compact ‘Tabletop’ Particle Accelerator

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/worldrecordf.jpg>)

- The researchers sped up the particles—electrons in this case—inside a nine-centimeter long tube of plasma. The speed corresponded to an energy of 4.25 giga-electron volts
- The record-breaking energies were achieved with the help of BELLA (Berkeley Lab Laser Accelerator), one of the most powerful lasers in the world
- In order to accelerate electrons to even higher energies—the near-term goal is 10 giga-electron volts—the researchers will need to more precisely control the density of the plasma channel through which the laser light flows.