E. Milan

First results of investigation of radiation from positrons in a crystalline undulator

Radiation emitted by positrons moving in a periodically deformed crystal has been experimentally observed for the first time. Radiation spectra have been measured in a wide energy range. Experimental evidence has been obtained for an undulator peak in a radiation spectrum, which is qualitatively consistent with calculations. Crystalline undulators ensure an equivalent magnetic field of 1000 T and a period in the submillimeter range and can therefore be used to generate x-ray and gamma radiation that is a hundred times harder than radiation in usual undulators.

Low-energy-channeling surface analysis on silicon crystals designed for high-energy-channeling in accelerators

Channeling of relativistic particles in bent Si crystals is a powerful technique for use with accelerators. Its efficiency can be found to be highly dependent on the state of the surface of the crystal steering the particles. We investigated the morphology and structure of the surface of the samples that have been used with high efficiency for channeling in accelerators. Low-energy channeling of 2MeVα particles or protons was used as a probe. We found that mechanical treatment of the samples leads to a superficial damaged layer, which is correlated to efficiency limitations of the crystal in accelerators. In contrast, chemical etching, which was used to treat the surface of the most efficient crystals, leaves a surface with superior perfection.

Apparatus to study crystal channeling and volume reflection phenomena at the SPS H8 beamline

A high performance apparatus has been designed and built by the H8-RD22 collaboration for the study of channeling and volume reflection phenomena in the interaction of 400 GeV/c protons with bent silicon crystals, during the 2006 data taking in the external beamline H8 of the CERN SPS. High-quality silicon short crystals were bent by either anticlastic or quasimosaic effects. Alignment with the highly parallel (8 murad divergence) proton beam was guaranteed through a submicroradian goniometric system equipped with both rotational and translational stages. Particle tracking was possible by a series of silicon microstrip detectors with high-resolution and a parallel plate gas chamber, triggered by various scintillating detectors located along the beamline. Experimental observation of volume reflection with 400 GeV/c protons proved true with a deflection angle of (10.4+/-0.5) murad with respect to the unperturbed beam, with a silicon crystal whose (111) planes were parallel to the beam.

ACCELERATOR TESTS OF CRYSTAL UNDULATORS

A series of Silicon crystal undulator samples were produced based on the approach presented in PRL 90 (2003) 034801, with the periods of undulation from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and the number of periods on the order of 10. The samples were characterized by X-rays, revealing the sine-like shape of the crystal lattice in the bulk. Next step in the characterization has been the channeling tests done with 70 GeV protons, where good channeling properties of the undulated Silicon lattice have been observed. The photon radiation tests of crystal undulators with high energy positrons are in progress on several locations: IHEP Protvino, LNF Frascati, and CERN SPS. The progress in the experimental activities and the predictions from detailed simulations are reported.