SMART - a SMall pArticle accelerRaTor on chip

The miniaturization of particle accelerators via Dielectric Laser Acceleration (DLA)offers a route to ultra-compact, cost-effective devices powered by commercial laser systems. This work explores the extension of DLA technology—historically focused on electrons—to protons, aiming to enable "on-chip" sources of high energy hadrons. We present the design and simulation of a novel microstructure optimized for the acceleration of non-relativistic protons. Key challenges addressed include the management of phase slippage and the requirement for strong transverse confinement of heavy particles at low 𝛽. This study aims to demonstrate the potential for stable acceleration and focusing, validating the pDLA(proton-DLA) concept as a viable candidate for future compact accelerator architectures.