M. Babzien

Monoenergetic proton beams accelerated by a radiation pressure driven shock.

We report on the acceleration of impurity-free quasimononenergetic proton beams from an initially gaseous hydrogen target driven by an intense infrared (λ=10 μm) laser. The front surface of the target was observed by optical probing to be driven forward by the radiation pressure of the laser. A proton beam of ∼MeV energy was simultaneously recorded with narrow energy spread (σ∼4%), low normalized emittance (∼8 nm), and negligible background. The scaling of proton energy with the ratio of intensity over density (I/n) confirms that the acceleration is due to the radiation pressure driven shock.

Resonant excitation of coherent Cerenkov radiation in dielectric lined waveguides

We report the observation of coherent Cerenkov radiation in the terahertz regime emitted by a relativistic electron pulse train passing through a dielectric lined cylindrical waveguide. We describe the beam manipulations and measurements involved in repetitive pulse train creation including comb collimation and nonlinear optics corrections. With this technique, modes beyond the fundamental are selectively excited by use of the appropriate frequency train. The spectral characterization of the structure shows preferential excitation of the fundamental and of a higher longitudinal mode.

Emittance studies of the BNL/SLAC/UCLA 1.6 cell photocathode RF gun

The symmetrized 1.6 cell S-band photocathode gun developed by the BNL/SLAC/UCLA collaboration is in operation at the Brookhaven Accelerator Test Facility (ATF). A novel emittance compensation solenoid magnet has also been designed, built and is in operation at the ATF. These two subsystems form an emittance compensated photoinjector used for beam dynamics, advanced acceleration and free electron laser experiments at the ATF. The highest acceleration field achieved on the copper cathode is 150 MV/m, and the guns normal operating field is 130 MV/m. The maximum rf pulse length is 3 /spl mu/s. The transverse emittance of the photoelectron beam were measured for various injection parameters. The 1 nC emittance results are presented along with electron bunch length measurements that indicated that at above the 400 pC, space charge bunch lengthening is occurring. The thermal emittance, /spl epsiv//sub 0/, of the copper cathode has been measured.

Experimental characterization of the high-brightness electron photoinjector

Abstract Operational experience of the emittance compensated photoinjector at the Brookhaven Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) is presented in this paper. The photoinjector has demonstrated the stability and reliability required for UV and X-ray FEL applications. The RF gun has been routinely running at more than 100 MV/m peak acceleration field; the laser system of the photoinjector has achieved 2% peak to peak energy stability, 0,5% point stability and better than 2 ps timing jitter. The highest measured quantum efficiency of the Cu cathode is 0.05%. The electron beam bunch length was measured to be 10 ps using a linac RF phase scan. The normalized rms emittance for 0.5 nC charge was measured, to be from 1 to 2 mm rad, which agrees with PARMELA simulations.

STELLA experiment: Design and model predictions

The STaged ELectron Laser Acceleration (STELLA) experiment will be one of the first to examine the critical issue of staging the laser acceleration process. The BNL inverse free electron laser (EEL) will serve as a prebuncher to generate {approx} 1 {micro}m long microbunches. These microbunches will be accelerated by an inverse Cerenkov acceleration (ICA) stage. A comprehensive model of the STELLA experiment is described. This model includes the EEL prebunching, drift and focusing of the microbunches into the ICA stage, and their subsequent acceleration. The model predictions will be presented including the results of a system error study to determine the sensitivity to uncertainties in various system parameters.

Subpicosecond Double Electron Bunch Generation

We have demonstrated creating two compressed electron beam bunches from a single 60‐MeV bunch. Measurements indicate they have comparable bunch lengths (∼100–200 fs) and are separated in energy by ∼1.8 MeV with the higher‐energy bunch preceding the lower‐energy bunch by 0.5–1 ps. A possible explanation for the double‐bunch formation process is also presented.

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.

Conversion efficiency and damage threshold measurements of CsLiB6O10 with a train of laser pulses

The energy conversion efficiency and the damage threshold of a CsLiB6O10 crystal have been measured for a pulse train with 80 pulses at 532 nm, each with energy up to 200 μJ, 14 ps duration and 25 ns pulse to pulse spacing. Maximum energy conversion efficiency of 38% has been measured when the crystal was used to convert 532 nm to 266 nm. The damage threshold of the crystal for this pulse train was measured to be >130 and <520 GW/cm2. Both the high intensity of the micropulse and the fluence of the macropulse appear to affect the damage threshold.

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

Inverse Cerenkov acceleration and inverse free-electron laser experimental results for staged electron laser acceleration

The goal of the staged electron laser acceleration (STELLA) experiment is to demonstrate staging of the laser acceleration process whereby an inverse free electron laser (IFEL) will be used to prebunch the electrons, which are then accelerated in an inverse Cerenkov accelerator (ICA). As preparation for this experiment, a new permanent magnet wiggler for the IFEL was constructed and the ICA system was modified. Both systems have been tested on a new beamline specifically built for STELLA. The improved electron beam (e-beam) with its very low emittance (0.8 mm-mrad normalized) enabled focusing the e-beam to an average radius (1/spl sigma/) of 65 /spl mu/m, within the ICA interaction region. This small e-beam focus greatly enhanced the ICA process and resulted in electron energy spectra that have demonstrated the best agreement to date in both overall shape and magnitude with the model predictions. The electron energy spectrum using the new wiggler in the IFEL was also measured. These results will be described as well as future improvements to the STELLA experiment.