The secondary beam production target at future positron sources at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), the International Linear Collider (ILC) or the Future Circular Collider (FCC), features unprecedented mechanical and thermal stresses which may compromise sustainable and reliable operation. Candidate materials are required to possess high melting temperature together with excellent thermal conductivity, elasticity and radiation hardness properties. In order to substantiate the material choice for the CEBAF and ILC positron sources, the response of candidate materials such as titanium alloys, tungsten, and tantalum to electron beam irradiation was experimentally investigated. CEBAF and ILC expected operating conditions were mimicked using the 3.5 MeV electron beam of the MAMI facility injector. The material degradations were precisely analyzed via high energy X-ray diffraction at the HEMS beamline operated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon at the PETRA III synchrotron facility. This work reports the results of these measurements and their interpretation.

Especially when a high average current of 1 mA and more is required, it is important to protect photocathodes from overheating due to the absorbed laser power. Heat must be dissipated via the surrounding components and materials. This is largely limited by the low heat conductivity of usual high-voltage insulators, e.g. made of aluminum oxide. At the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, we have successfully tested an insulating structure from boron nitride. Due to its physical properties, boron nitride fulfills both requirements: good heat conduction and high-voltage resistance. The results of high voltage tests and of the heat transfer capabilities will be presented.