Towards Single-Shot Characterization Of Near-Resonant Lwfa In A Differentially-Pumped Gas Cell

We report on progress in the development of a single-shot diagnostic for measuring near-resonant laser-driven wakefields. The development entails the following critical steps: 1. Increase in laser pulse energy 2. development and characterization of a differentially pumped gas cell 3. development of a single-shot diagnostic with low phase noise 4. analysis of laser/plasma parameter space for maximizing the measured phase shift. As a result of this development we expect to be have detection sensitivity of 50 - 100 mrad and we expect to be able produce and measure wakefields with dne/nesimilar to1 and phase shifts of several hundred mrad.