Enhanced dielectric-wall linear accelerator

A linear accelerator (linac), comprising:

• a first plane with a first flat planar conductor having a first central hole, and connected to a common potential;
• a second plane adjacent to and parallel with the first plane and having a second flat planar conductor with a second central hole that shares an axis with said first central hole, and switchable to both said common potential and a high voltage potential;
• a third plane adjacent to and parallel with the second plane and having a third flat planar conductor with a third central hole that shares said axis with said first and second central holes, and connected to a common potential;
• a first dielectric volume that fills the space separating said first and second planar conductors and that comprises a first layered insulator assembly with a first dielectric constant;
• a second dielectric volume that fills the space separating said second and third planar conductors and that comprises a second layered insulator assembly with a second dielectric constant that is substantially greater than the dielectric constant of said first material, wherein a substantial difference in electrical signal wavefront propagation velocity exists between the first and second dielectric volumes from the outside perimeters of the first through third flat planar conductors and their respective first through third central holes;
• a laser directed to focus a fluence of photons on the outside edges of said first through third flat planar conductors for repeated initiation of a short circuit of a high voltage, wherein, an accelerating field is momentarily created in one direction along said axis through said first through third central holes;
• and
• a dielectric sleeve fitted through the inside diameters of said first through third central holes as a hollow tube open to pass a particle beam along said axis;
• wherein the dielectric sleeve comprises alternating layers of metals and dielectrics in planes orthogonal to said axis.