LLNL, Livermore, California, USA
A wide variety of light-source applications would benefit from increased average brightness, which generally corresponds to increasing average current in the driving accelerator. Presented is an accelerator architecture that is capable of producing hundreds of electron bunches, spaced as close together as every RF cycle, which provides the chance to increase current while maintaining beam quality. This system relies on an X-band photoinjector and a photoinjection drive laser that is driven by the same rf source to ensure synchronization, and an interaction laser system designed to match the duty cycle of the electron pulse train. Results of the photoinjector laser performance and initial experimental measurements of beam quality in accelerated bunch trains are presented, along with a discussion of the impact on the performance of tunable, narrow-bandwidth x-ray and gamma-ray beams based on Compton-scattering.
LLNL, Livermore, California, USA
Extremely bright narrow bandwidth gamma-ray sources are expanding the application of accelerator technology and light sources in new directions. An X-band test station has been commissioned at LLNL to develop multi-bunch electron beams. This multi-bunch mode will have stringent requirements for the electron bunch properties including low emittance and energy spread, but across multiple bunches. The test station is a unique facility featuring a 200 MV/m 5.59 cell X-band photogun powered by a SLAC XL4 klystron driven by a Scandinova solid-state modulator. This paper focuses on its current status including the generation and initial characterization of first electron beam. Design and installation of the inverse-Compton scattering interaction region and upgrade paths will be discussed along with future applications.