SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
LLNL, Livermore, California, USA
SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
We present an optimized 5 + ½ cell, X-band photoinjector designed to produce 7 MeV, 250 pC, sub-micron emittance electron bunches for the LLNL Mono-Energetic Gamma-Ray (MEGa-Ray) light source. This LLNL/SLAC collaboration modifies a design previously demonstrated to sustain 200 MV/m on-axis accelerating fields*. We discuss the photoinjector operating point, optimized by scaling beam dynamics from S-band photo-guns and by evaluation of the MEGa-Ray source requirements. The RF structure design is presented along with the current status of the photoinjector construction and testing.
*A.E. Vlieks, et al., High Energy Density and High Power RF: 6th Workshop, AIP, CP691, p. 358 (2003).
TUODS3
SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
Recently the scheme of echo-enabled harmonic generation (EEHG*) was proposed for short wavelength seeded FELs. This scheme allows far higher harmonic numbers to be accessed and makes the generation of coherent soft x-ray directly from a UV seed laser in a single stage possible**. In this paper we present the experimental demonstration*** of this echo harmonic technique at the Next Linear Collider Test Accelerator (NLCTA) at SLAC, where the coherent radiation at the harmonic frequency of the seed laser is generated using the 120 MeV electron beam. The experiment confirms the physics behind this technique and paves the way for applying it for seeded x-ray FELs.
* G. Stupakov, Phys. Rev. Lett, ZeHn2, 074801 (2009).
** D. Xiang and G. Stupakov, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 12, 030702 (2009).
*** D. Xiang, at al, Phys. Rev. Lett, ZeHn5, 114801 (2010).
SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
FACET, the Facility for Advanced Accelerator and Experimental Tests, is a new facility being constructed in sector 20 of the SLAC linac primarily to study beam driven plasma wakefield acceleration. The FACET beamline consists of a chicane and final focus system to compress the 23 GeV, 3 nC electron bunches to ~20μm long and ~10μm wide. Simulations of the FACET beamline indicate the short-duration and large, 1.5% rms energy spread beams may suffer a factor of four emittance growth from a combination of chromaticity, incoherent synchrotron radiation (ISR), and coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR). Emittance growth is directly correlated to head erosion in plasma wakefield acceleration and is a limiting factor in single stage performance. Studies of the geometric, CSR, and ISR components are presented. Numerical calculation of the rms emittance can be overwhelmed by long tails in the simulated phase space distributions; more useful definitions of emittance are given. A complete simulation of the beamline is presented as well, which agrees with design specifications.
LLNL, Livermore, California, USA
SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
In support of Compton scattering gamma-ray source efforts at LLNL, a multi-bunch test station is being developed to investigate accelerator optimization for future upgrades. This test station will enable work to explore the science and technology paths required to boost the current mono-energetic gamma-ray (MEGa-Ray) technology a higher effective repetition rate, potentially increasing the average gamma-ray brightness by two orders of magnitude. The test station will consist of a 5.5 cell X-band rf photoinjector, single accelerator section, and beam diagnostics. Beam quality must be exceedingly high in order to produce narrow-bandwidth gamma-rays, requiring a robust state of the art photoinjector. The photoinjector will be a high gradient (200 MV/m cathode field) standing wave structure, featuring a dual feed racetrack coupler, elliptical irises, and an optimized first cell length. Detailed design of the rf photoinjector for this test station is complete, and will be presented with modeling simulations, and layout plans.
LLNL, Livermore, California, USA
SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
In support of x-band photoinjector development efforts at LLNL, a 50 MW test station is being constructed to investigate structure and photocathode optimization for future upgrades. A SLAC XL-4 klystron capable of generating 50 MW, 1.5 microsecond pulses will be the high power RF source for the system. The timing of the laser pulse on the photocathode with the applied RF field places very stringent requirements on phase jitter and drift. To achieve these requirements, the klystron will be powered by a state of the art, solid-state, high voltage modulator. The 50 MW of RF power will be divided between the photoinjector and a traveling wave accelerator section. A high power phase shifter is located between the photoinjector and accelerator section to adjust the phasing of the electron bunches with respect to the accelerating field. A variable attenuator is included on the input of the photoinjector. The distribution system including the various x-band components is being designed and constructed. In this paper, we will present the design, layout, and status of the RF system.
LLNL, Livermore, California, USA
SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
A new class of gamma-ray light source based on Compton scattering is made possible by recent progress in accelerator physics and laser technology. Mono-energetic gamma-rays are produced from collisions between a high-brightness, relativistic electron beam and a high intensity laser pulse produced via chirped-pulse amplification (CPA). A precision, tunable gamma-ray source driven by a compact, high-gradient X-band linac is currently under development and construction at LLNL. High-brightness, relativistic electron bunches produced by an X-band linear accelerator designed in collaboration with SLAC will interact with a Joule-class, 10 ps, diode-pumped CPA laser pulse to generate tunable gamma-rays in the 0.5-2.5 MeV photon energy range via Compton scattering. The source will be used to conduct nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments and address a broad range of current and emerging applications in nuclear photoscience. Users include homeland security, stockpile science and surveillance, nuclear fuel assay, and waste imaging and assay. The source design, key parameters, and current status are presented, along with important applications.