C. Jing

Dielectric laser accelerators

We describe recent advances in the study of particle acceleration using dielectric near-field structures driven by infrared lasers, which we refer to as Dielectric Laser Accelerators. Implications for high energy physics and other applications are discussed.

Observation of wakefield generation in left-handed band of metamaterial-loaded waveguide

We report on a design of a TM-mode based metamaterial-loaded waveguide. Network analyzer measurements demonstrated a left-handed propagation region for the TM11 mode at around 10 GHz. A beamline experiment was performed with the metamaterial-loaded waveguide. In this experiment, a 6 MeV electron beam passes through the waveguide and generates a wakefield via the Cherenkov radiation mechanism. We detected a signal in the left-handed frequency band at 10 GHz. This is an indirect demonstration of reverse Cherenkov radiation as predicted in the work of Veselago [Sov. Phys. Usp. 10, 509 (1968)] and discussed in the works of Lu et al. [Opt. Express 11, 723 (2003)], Averkov and Yakovenko [Phys. Rev. B 72, 205110 (2005)], and Tyukhtin et al. [IEEE, Proceedings of the PAC, 2007 (unpublished), pp. 4156–4158]. Cherenkov radiation in artificially constructed materials [metamaterials (MTMs)] can provide unusual engineered features that can be advantageous for particle detector design.

Experimental observation of energy modulation in electron beams passing through terahertz dielectric wakefield structures.

We report the observation of a strong wakefield induced energy modulation in an energy-chirped electron bunch passing through a dielectric-lined waveguide. This modulation can be effectively converted into a spatial modulation forming microbunches with a periodicity of 0.5-1 ps and, hence, capable of driving coherent terahertz radiation. The experimental results agree well with theoretical predictions.

Experimental demonstration of wakefield effects in a THz planar diamond accelerating structure

We have directly measured THz wakefields induced by a subpicosecond, intense relativistic electron bunch in a diamond loaded accelerating structure via the wakefield acceleration method. We present here the beam test results from the diamond based structure. Diamond has been chosen for its high breakdown threshold and unique thermoconductive properties. Fields produced by a leading (drive) beam were used to accelerate a trailing (witness) electron bunch, which followed the drive bunch at a variable distance. The energy gain of a witness bunch as a function of its separation from the drive bunch describes the time structure of the generated wakefield.

Experimental demonstration of energy-chirp compensation by a tunable dielectric-based structure.

A tunable energy-chirp compensator was used to remove a correlated energy chirp from the 60-MeV beam at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Accelerator Test Facility. The compensator operates through the interaction of the wakefield of the electron bunch with itself and consists of a planar structure comprised of two alumina bars with copper-plated backs separated by an adjustable beam aperture. By changing the gap size, the correlated energy chirp of the electron bunch was completely removed. Calculations show that this device, properly scaled to account for the electron bunch charge and length, can be used to remove residual correlated energy spread at the end of the linacs used for free-electron lasers. The experimental results are shown to be in good agreement with numerical simulations. Application of this technique can significantly simplify linac design and improve free-electron lasers performance.

High quantum efficiency ultrananocrystalline diamond photocathode for photoinjector applications

We report results of quantum efficiency (QE) measurements carried out on a 150 nm thick nitrogen-incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond terminated with hydrogen; abbreviated as (N)UNCD:H. (N)UNCD:H demonstrated a remarkable QE of ∼10−3 (∼0.1%) at 254 nm. Moreover, (N)UNCD:H was sensitive in visible light with a QE of ∼5 × 10−8 at 405 nm and ∼5 × 10−9 at 436 nm. Importantly, after growth and prior to QE measurements, samples were exposed to air for about 2 h for transfer and loading. Such design takes advantage of a key combination: (1) H-termination proven to induce negative electron affinity on the (N)UNCD and to stabilize its surface against air exposure; and (2) N-incorporation inducing n-type conductivity in intrinsically insulating UNCD.

Planar ultrananocrystalline diamond field emitter in accelerator radio frequency electron injector: Performance metrics

A case performance study of a planar field emission cathode (FEC) based on nitrogen-incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond, (N)UNCD, was carried out in an RF 1.3 GHz electron gun. The FEC was a 100 nm (N)UNCD film grown on a 20 mm diameter stainless steel disk with a Mo buffer layer. At surface gradients 45–65 MV/m, peak currents of 1–80 mA (equivalent to 0.3–25 mA/cm2) were achieved. Imaging with two YAG screens confirmed emission from the (N)UNCD surface with (1) the beam emittance of 1.5 mm × mrad/mm-rms and (2) longitudinal FWHM and rms widths of non-Gaussian energy spread of 0.7% and 11% at an electron energy of 2 MeV. Current stability was tested over the course of 36 × 103 RF pulses (equivalent to 288 × 106 GHz oscillations).

The effects of magnetic field on single-surface resonant multipactor

The single-surface resonant multipactor in dielectric-loaded accelerating structures has been found to result in serious power absorption [J. G. Power et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 164801 (2004)]. This paper presents an effective method for suppressing the resonant multipactor via an external dc magnetic field B satisfying special amplitudes. Using three-dimensional dynamic calculations and electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations, the suppression mechanism is researched. The variation of the magnetic field is investigated for the ratio of the gyro-frequency to the rf satisfying Ω/ω ∈ (0.25, 2), over which the suppression effect for the multipactor initially improves and then weakens.

GHz laser-free time-resolved transmission electron microscopy: A stroboscopic high-duty-cycle method

A device and a method for producing ultrashort electron pulses with GHz repetition rates via pulsing an input direct current (dc) electron beam are provided. The device and the method are based on an electromagnetic-mechanical pulser (EMMP) that consists of a series of transverse deflecting cavities and magnetic quadrupoles. The EMMP modulates and chops the incoming dc electron beam and converts it into pico- and sub-pico-second electron pulse sequences (pulse trains) at >1GHz repetition rates, as well as controllably manipulates the resulting pulses. Ultimately, it leads to negligible electron pulse phase-space degradation compared to the incoming dc beam parameters. The temporal pulse length and repetition rate for the EMMP can be continuously tunable over wide ranges. Applying the EMMP to a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with any dc electron source (e.g. thermionic, Schottky, or field-emission source), a GHz stroboscopic high-duty-cycle TEM can be realized. Unlike in many recent developments in time-resolved TEM that rely on a sample pumping laser paired with a laser launching electrons from a photocathode to probe the sample, there is no laser in the presented experimental set-up. This is expected to be a significant relief for electron microscopists who are not familiar with laser systems. The EMMP and the sample are externally driven by a radiofrequency (RF) source synchronized through a delay line. With no laser pumping the sample, the problem of the pump laser induced residual heating/damaging the sample is eliminated. As many RF-driven processes can be cycled indefinitely, sampling rates of 1-50GHz become accessible. Such a GHz stroboscopic TEM would open up a new paradigm for in situ and in operando experiments to study samples externally driven electromagnetically. Complementary to the lower (MHz) repetition rates experiments enabled by laser photocathode TEM, new experiments in the multi-GHz regime will be enabled by the proposed RF design. Because TEM is also a platform for various analytical methods, there are infinite application opportunities in energy and electronics to resolve charge (electronic and ionic) transport, and magnetic, plasmonic and excitonic dynamics in advanced functional materials. In addition, because the beam duty-cycle can be as high as ~10(-1) (or 10%), detection can be accomplished by commercially available detectors. In this article, we report an optimal design of the EMMP. The optimal design was found using an analytical generalized matrix approach in the thin lens approximation along with detailed beam dynamics taking actual realistic dc beam parameters in a TEM operating at 200keV.

Progress Toward Externally Powered X-Band Dielectric-Loaded Accelerating Structures

We summarize recent progress in a program to develop externally powered dielectric-loaded accelerating (DLA) structures that can sustain high accelerating gradients. High-power RF tests of earlier structures showed strong multipactor loading. In addition, arcing at dielectric joints between the uniform DLA structure and matching sections at either end limited the achievable gradient. In this paper, we study the onset of multipactor in a DLA structure. We also study the effect of thin-film TiN coatings applied by atomic layer deposition and the effect of a reduction in the inner diameter of the structure. Test results of these structures show significant decreases in multipactor loading. We also test new structure designs that eliminate separate dielectric matching sections and, thus, the requirement for dielectric joints, including a DLA structure using a coaxial coupler and a clamped DLA structure. The clamped structure demonstrated a significantly improved gradient without breakdown.