James Safranek

Generation of picosecond electron bunches in storage rings.

Approaches to generating short X-ray pulses in synchrotron light sources are discussed. In particular, the method of using a superconducting harmonic cavity to generate simultaneously long and short bunches in storage rings and the approach of injecting short bunches from a linac injector into a storage ring for multi-turn circulation are emphasized. If multi-cell superconducting RF (SRF) cavities with frequencies of ∼1.5 GHz can be employed in storage rings, it would be possible to generate stable, high-flux, short-pulse X-ray beams with pulse lengths of 1-10 ps (FWHM) in present or future storage rings. However, substantial challenges exist in adapting todays high-gradient SRF cavities for high-current storage ring operation. Another approach to generating short X-ray pulses in a storage ring is injecting short-pulse electron bunches from a high-repetition-rate linac injector for circulation. Its performance is limited by the microbunching instability due to coherent synchrotron radiation. Tracking studies are carried out to evaluate its performance. Challenges and operational considerations for this mode are considered.

Ground motion improvements in SPEAR3

SPEAR3 is a third-generation synchrotron light source storage ring, about 234 meters in circumference. To meet the beam stability requirement, our goal is to ultimately achieve an orbit variation (relative to the photon beam lines) of less than 10% of the beam size, which is about 1 micron in the vertical plane. Hydrostatic leveling system (HLS) measurements show that the height of the SPEAR3 tunnel floor can vary by tens of microns daily without thermal insulation improvements. We present an analysis of the HLS data that shows that adding thermal insulation to the concrete walls of the storage ring tunnel dramatically decreased diurnal tunnel floor motion.

SPEAR3 Short-Pulse, Low-α Operation

The SPEAR3 storage ring at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, is delivering beam in a short-pulse, low-α operational mode. In order to deliver short photon pulses, the stored current in SPEAR3 must be reduced. In low-α mode, we presently deliver 100 mA total current with bunch lengths of 15 psec FWHM, compared to our standard operations with 500 mA and 46 psec FWHM bunch lengths. It is possible to deliver still shorter pulses at lower current. The low-α beam is stored in four bunch trains, interleaved with up to four “camshaft” timing bunches for pump-probe experiments. This simultaneously provides short pulses for timing experiments while ensuring 100 mA for experiments at other beamlines.