A. Murokh

Bunch length measurement of picosecond electron beams from a photoinjector using coherent transition radiation

Abstract The bunch length of an electron beam derived from the UCLA Saturnus photoinjector has been measured using a 45° CTR foil. The sudden change of electrons boundary conditions cause them to radiate (transition radiation) with the spectral power entirely dependent upon the degree of coherency, which strongly relates to the beam size. A polarizing Michelson interferometer allowed measurement of the auto-correlation of the coherent transition radiation signal. An analysis method was developed to compensate for undetected low-frequency radiation and systematically extract the bunch length information for a specific beam model. This analysis allowed observation of pulse lengthening due to the space charge, as well as compression with the variation of the RF injection phase. The hypothesis of a satellite beam has been also tested using this analysis.

The Neptune photoinjector

Abstract The RF photoinjector in the Neptune advanced accelerator laboratory, along with associated beam diagnostics, transport and phase-space manipulation techniques are described. This versatile injector has been designed to produce short-pulse electron beams for a variety of uses: ultra-short bunches for injection into a next-generation plasma beatwave acceleration experiment, 2 space-charge dominated beam physics studies, plasma wake-field acceleration driver, plasma lensing, and free-electron laser microbunching techniques. The component parts of the photoinjector, the RF gun, photocathode drive laser systems, booster linac, RF system, chicane compressor, beam diagnostic systems, and control system, are discussed. The present status of photoinjector commissioning at Neptune is reviewed, and proposed experiments are detailed.

Towards a plasma wake-field acceleration-based linear collider

Abstract A proposal for a linear collider based on an advanced accelerator scheme, plasma wake-field acceleration in the extremely nonlinear regime, is discussed. In this regime, many of the drawbacks associated with preservation of beam quality during acceleration in plasma are mitigated. The scaling of all beam and wake parameters with respect to plasma wavelength is examined. Experimental progress towards high-gradient acceleration in this scheme is reviewed. We then examine a linear collider based on staging of many modules of plasma wake-field accelerator, all driven by a high average current, pulse compressed, RF photoinjector-fed linac. Issue of beam loading, efficiency, optimized stage length, and power efficiency are discussed. A proof-of-principle experimental test of the staging concept at the Fermilab test facility is discussed.

Limitations on measuring a transverse profile of ultradense electron beams with scintillators

As high-brightness electron beams become denser and reach sub-100 /spl mu/m sizes, a resolution of the transverse profile diagnostics become an important issue. The applicability of traditional scintillators as the diagnostics for most generic transverse properties of small dense beams is questionable. Recently, a YAG:Ce single crystal was used successfully, but studies indicated the presence of saturation effects. At BNL-ATF (Accelerator Test Facility) we have generated ultra-small beams, and continued an experimental work to further illuminate the nature of YAG:Ce saturation. We have also evaluated alternative diagnostics, such as LuAG:Ce. Imaging properties of various diagnostics were studied, including measurements of emission spectra.

The GALAXIE all-optical FEL project

We describe a comprehensive project, funded under the DARPA AXiS program, to develop an all-optical table-top X-ray FEL based on dielectric acceleration and electromagnetic undulators, yielding a compact source of coherent X-rays for medical and related applications. The compactness of this source demands that high field (>GV/m) acceleration and undulation-inducing fields be employed, thus giving rise to the project’s acronym: GV/m AcceLerator And X-ray Integrated Experiment (GALAXIE). There are numerous physics and technical hurdles to surmount in this ambitious scenario, and the integrated solutions include: a biharmonic photonic TW structure, 200 micron wavelength electromagnetic undulators, 5 μm laser development, ultra-high brighness magnetized/asymmetric emittance electron beam generation, and SASE FEL operation. We describe the overall design philosophy of the project, the innovative approaches to addressing the challenges presented by the design, and the significant progress towards realization of these approaches in the nine months since project initialization.

Results of the VISA SASE FEL Experiment at 840 nm

VISA (Visible to Infrared SASE Amplifier) is a high-gain self-amplified spontaneous emission FEL, which achieved saturation at 840 nm within a single-pass 4-m undulator. A gain length shorter than 18 cm has been obtained, yielding the gain of 2 ×108 at saturation. The FEL performance, including spectral, angular, and statistical properties of SASE radiation, has been characterized for different electron beam conditions. The results are compared to 3-D SASE FEL theory and start-to-end numerical simulations of the entire injector, transport, and FEL system. Detailed agreement between simulations and experimental results is obtained over the wide range of the electron beam parameters.© 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurements of nonlinear harmonic radiation and harmonic microbunching in a visible SASE FEL

The experimental characterization of nonlinear harmonic generation (NHG) and electron beam microbunching at saturation from a visible SASE FEL are presented in this report. The gain lengths, spectra and energies of NHG were experimentally measured up to the third harmonic, and agree with theoretical predictions. Electron beam microbunching in both the fundamental and the second harmonic as the function of the SASE output were experimentally observed over the full range of SASE gain. The bunching factors for both the fundamental (b1) and second harmonic (b2) were experimentally characterized at saturation. The microbunching data provides another test of SASE saturation as well as correlating the NHG and electron beam microbunching modes to the fundamental SASE.© 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.PACS: 41.60. Cr;41.60. Ap;4185. Ja

High average current betatrons for industrial and security applications

The fixed-field alternating-gradient (FFAG) betatron has emerged as a viable alternative to RF linacs as a source of high-energy radiation for industrial and security applications. For industrial applications, high average currents at modest relativistic electron beam energies, typically in the 5 to 10 MeV range, are desired for medical product sterilization, food irradiation and materials processing. For security applications, high power X-rays in the 3 to 20 MeV range are needed for rapid screening of cargo containers and vehicles. In a FFAG betatron, high-power output is possible due to high duty factor and fast acceleration cycle: electrons are injected and accelerated in a quasi-CW mode while being confined and focused in the fixed-field alternating- gradient lattice. The beam is accelerated via magnetic induction from a betatron core made with modern low- loss magnetic materials. Here we present the design and status of a prototype FFAG betatron, called the Radiatron, as well as future prospects for these machines.

Design and status of the VISA II experiment

VISA II is the follow-up project to the successful Visible to Infrared SASE Amplifier (VISA) experiment at the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) in Brookhaven National Lab (BNL). This paper will report the motivation for and status of the two main experiments associated with the VISA II program. One goal of VISA II is to perform an experimental study of the physics of a chirped beam SASE FEL at the upgraded facilities of the ATF. This requires a linearization of the transport line to preserve energy chirping of the electron beam at injection. The other planned project is a strong bunch compression experiment, where the electron bunch is compressed in the chicane, and the dispersive beamline transport, allowing studies of deep saturation.

Commissioning of the Neptune photoinjector

The status of the RF photoinjector in the Neptune advanced accelerator laboratory is discussed. The components of the photoinjector: the RF gun and booster linac, chicane compressor, and beam diagnostic systems are described. Measurement techniques used to diagnose the short pulse length, high brightness beam are detailed and measurements of emittance and pulse compression are given. The effect of the pulse compressor on transverse emittance is explored.