P. Frigola

Commissioning of a high-brightness photoinjector for compton scattering x-ray sources

Compton scattering of intense laser pulses with ultra- relativistic electron beams has proven to be an attractive source of high-brightness x-rays with keV to MeV energies. This type of x-ray source requires the electron beam brightness to be comparable with that used in x-ray free- electron lasers and laser and plasma based advanced accelerators. We describe the development and commissioning of a 1.6 cell RF photoinjector for use in Compton scattering experiments at LLNL. Injector development issues such as RF cavity design, beam dynamics simulations, emit- tance diagnostic development, results of sputtered magnesium photo-cathode experiments, and UV laser pulse shaping are discussed. Initial operation of the photoinjector is described.

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.

High average current betatrons for industrial and security applications

The fixed-field alternating-gradient (FFAG) betatron has emerged as a viable alternative to RF linacs as a source of high-energy radiation for industrial and security applications. For industrial applications, high average currents at modest relativistic electron beam energies, typically in the 5 to 10 MeV range, are desired for medical product sterilization, food irradiation and materials processing. For security applications, high power X-rays in the 3 to 20 MeV range are needed for rapid screening of cargo containers and vehicles. In a FFAG betatron, high-power output is possible due to high duty factor and fast acceleration cycle: electrons are injected and accelerated in a quasi-CW mode while being confined and focused in the fixed-field alternating- gradient lattice. The beam is accelerated via magnetic induction from a betatron core made with modern low- loss magnetic materials. Here we present the design and status of a prototype FFAG betatron, called the Radiatron, as well as future prospects for these machines.

Development of a CW NCRF Photoinjector using Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF)

A key issue for high average power, normal conducting radio frequency (NCRF), photoinjectors is efficient structure cooling. To that end, RadiaBeam has been developing the use of Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) for the production of NCRF photoinjectors. In this paper we describe the preliminary design, developed in collaboration with JLab, of a high gradient, very high duty cycle, photoinjector combining the cooling efficiency only possible through the use of SFF, and the RF efficiency of a re-entrant gun design. Simulations of the RF and thermal-stress performance are presented, as well as material testing of SFF components.

Saturation measurements of a visible SASE FEL

VISA (visible to infrared SASE amplifier) is an FEL designed to obtain high gain at a radiation wavelength of 800 nm. Large gain is achieved by driving the FEL with the 71 MeV, high brightness beam of the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) and using a novel, strong focusing, 4 m long undulator with a gap of 6 mm and a period of 1.8 cm. We report measurements of exponential gain, saturation, and spectra of the FEL radiation intensity.

Measuring FEL radiation properties at VISA-FEL

The VISA (Visible to Infrared SASE Amplifier) SASE free electron laser has been successfully operated at the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) at BNL. High gain and saturation were observed at 840 nm. We describe here the diagnostic system, experimental procedures and data reduction algorithms, as the FEL performance was measured along the length of the undulator. We also discuss selected spectral radiation measurements.

Commissioning of the UCLA PEGASUS Photoinjector laboratory

The PEGASUS Photoinjector has been commissioned at UCLA. The Plane Wave Transformer Photoinjector provides a high-brightness 17 MeV beam that will be used for numerous beam-radiation studies. Some of these will include SASE FEL, transition radiation from non-standard surfaces, and monochromatic X-ray production via PXR and Thompson scattering.

A Helical Undulator Wave-guide Inverse Free-Electron Laser

With recent success in high gradient, high‐energy gain IFEL experiments at the UCLA Neptune Laboratory, future experiments are now being contemplated. The Neptune IFEL was designed to use a tightly focused, highly diffracting, near‐TW peak power 10 micron laser. This choice of laser focusing, driven by power‐handling limitations of the optics near the interaction region, led to design and use of a very complex undulator, and to sensitivity to both laser misalignment and focusing errors. As these effects limited the performance of the IFEL experiment, a next generation experiment at Neptune has been studied which avoids the use of a highly diffractive laser beam through use of a waveguide. We discuss here the choice of low‐loss waveguide, guided mode characteristics and likely power limitations. We also examine a preferred undulator design, which is chosen to be helical in order to maximize the acceleration achieved for a given power. With the limitations of these laser and undulator choices in mind, we sh...

Design and operation of Pegasus thermionic cathode

A new thermionic cathode has been developed and installed for use on the PEGASUS plane wave transformer injector. The novel design of the LaB6 cathode allows for thermionic emission as well as photoinjector operation. Both test-stand measurements and in situ operational experience are reported.

PRODUCTION OF FEMTOSECOND PULSES AND MICRON BEAM SPOTS FOR HIGH BRIGHTNESS ELECTRON BEAM APPLICATIONS

Current and future applications of high brightness electron beams, which include advanced accelerators and beam-radiation interactions require both transverse and longitudinal beam sizes on the order of tens of microns. Ultra-high density beams may be produced at moderate energy (50 MeV) by compression and subsequent strong focusing of low emittance, photoinjector sources. We describe the implementation of this method used at the PLEIADES inverse-Compton scattering (ICS) x-ray source at LLNL in which the photoinjector-generated beam has been compressed to 300 fsec rms duration using the velocity bunching technique and focused to 20 μm rms size using an extremely high gradient, permanent magnet quadrupole focusing system.