G. Loew

Research and development toward a 4.5−1.5 Å linac coherent light source (LCLS) at SLAC

Abstract In recent years significant studies have been initiated on the feasibility of utilizing a portion of the 3 km S-band accelerator at SLAC to drive a short wavelength (4.5−1.5 A) Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), a Free-Electron Laser (FEL) operating in the Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) regime. Electron beam requirements for single-pass saturation in a minimal time include: 1) a peak current in the 7 kA range, 2) a relative energy spread of e = λ 4π , where λ[m] is the output wavelength. Requirements on the insertion device include field error levels of 0.02% for keeping the electron bunch centered on and in phase with the amplified photons, and a focusing beta of 8 m/rad for inhibiting the dilution of its transverse density. Although much progress has been made in developing individual components and beam-processing techniques necessary for LCLS operation down to ∼20 A, a substantial amount of research and development is still required in a number of theoretical and experimental areas leading to the construction and operation of a 4.5−1.5 A LCLS. In this paper we report on a research and development program underway and in planning at SLAC for addressing critical questions in these areas. These include the construction and operation of a linac test stand for developing laser-driven photocathode rf guns with normalized emittances approaching 1 mm-mrad; development of advanced beam compression, stability, and emittance control techniques at multi-GeV energies; the construction and operation of a FEL Amplifier Test Experiment (FATE) for theoretical and experimental studies of SASE at IR wavelengths; an undulator development program to investigate superconducting, hybrid/permanent magnet (hybrid/PM), and pulsed-Cu technologies; theoretical and computational studies of high-gain FEL physics and LCLS component designs; development of X-ray optics and instrumentation for extracting, modulating, and delivering photons to experimental users; and the study and development of scientific experiments made possible by the source properties of the LCLS.

The Next Linear Collider Test Accelerator

During the past several years, there has been tremendous progress on the development of the RF system and accelerating structures for a Next Linear Collider (NLC). Developments include high-power klystrons, RF pulse compression systems and damped/detuned accelerator structures to reduce wakefields. In order to integrate these separate development efforts into an actual X-band accelerator capable of accelerating the electron beams necessary for an NLC, we are building an NLC Test Accelerator (NLCTA). The goal of the NLCTA is to bring together all elements of the entire accelerating system by constructing and reliably operating an engineered model of a high-gradient linac suitable for the NLC. The NLCTA will serve as a testbed as the design of the NLC evolves. In addition to testing the RF acceleration system, the NLCTA is designed to address many questions related to the dynamics of the beam during acceleration. In this paper, we will report on the status of the design, component development, and construction of the NLC Test Accelerator.<<ETX>>

The SLAC soft X-ray high power FEL

We discuss the design and performance of a 2 to 4 nm FEL operating in Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE), using a photoinjector to produce the electron beam, and the SLAC linac to accelerate it to an energy of about 7 GeV. Longitudinal bunch compression is used to increase the peak current to 2.5 kA, while reducing the bunch length to about 40 μm. The FEL field gain length is about 6 m, and the saturation length is about 60 m. The saturated output power is about 10 GW, corresponding to about 1014 photons in a single pulse in a bandwidth of about 0.1%, with a pulse duration of 0.16 ps. Length compression, emittance control, phase stability, FEL design criteria, and parameter tolerances are discussed.

Parameters of the SLAC Next Linear Collider

In this paper, we present the parameters and layout of the Next Linear Collider (NLC). The NLC is the SLAC design of a future linear collider using X-band RF technology in the main linacs. The collider would have an initial center-of-mass energy of 0.5 TeV which would be upgraded to 1 TeV and then 1.5 TeV in two stages. The design luminosity is >5/spl times/10/sup 33/ cm/sup -2/ sec/sup -1/ at 0.5 TeV and >10/sup 34/ cm/sup -2/ sec/sup -1/ at 1.0 and 1.5 TeV. We will briefly describe the components of the collider and the proposed energy upgrade scenario.

A 2-4 nm Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) using the SLAC linac

We describe the use of the SLAC linac to drive a unique, powerful, short wavelength Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Operating as an FEL, lasing would be achieved in a single pass of a high peak current electron beam through a long undulator by self-amplified spontaneous emission. The main components are a high-brightness rf photocathode electron gun; pulse compressors; about 1/5 of the SLAC linac; and a long undulator with a FODO quadrupole focusing system. Using electrons below 8 GeV, the system would operate at wavelengths down to about 3 nm, producing /spl ges/10 GW of peak power in sub-ps pulses. At a 120 Hz rate the average power is /spl ap/1 W.<<ETX>>

The SLAC Linear Collider

A brief description of the proposed SLAC Linear Collider is given. This machine would investigate the possibilities and limitations of Linear Colliders while at the same time producing thousands of Z/sup 0/ particles per day for the study of the weak interactions.

Linac coherent light source (LCLS) at 2-4 nm using the SLAC linac

We describe the possible use of the SLAC linac to drive a unique, powerful, short wavelength Linac Coherent Light Source. Using the FEL principle, lasing is achieved in a single pass of a high peak current electron beam through a long undulator by self-amplified-spontaneous- emission (SASE). The main components are a high-brightness electron RF gun with a photocathode, two electron bunch length compressors, the existing SLAC linac, beam diagnostics, and a long undulator combined with a FODO quadrupole focusing system. The RF gun, to be installed about 1 km from the end of the SLAC linac, would produce a single bunch of 6 X 109 electrons with an invariant emittance of about 3 mm-mrad and a bunch length of about 500 micrometers . That bunch is then accelerated to 100 MeV and compressed to a length of about 200 micrometers . The main SLAC linac accelerates the bunch to 2 GeV where a second bunch compressor reduces the length to 30 - 40 micrometers and produces a peak current of 2 - 3 kA. The bunch is then accelerated to 7 - 8 GeV and transported to a 50 - 70 m long undulator. Using electrons below 8 GeV, the undulator could operate at wavelengths down to 2 nm, producing about 10 GW peak power in sub-ps light pulses.