Y.-C. Chae

Start-to-end simulation of self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron lasers from the gun through the undulator.

Abstract It is widely appreciated that the performance of self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron lasers (FELs) depends critically on the properties of the drive beam. In view of this, a multi-laboratory collaboration has explored methods and software tools for integrated simulation of the photoinjector, linear accelerator, bunch compressor, and FEL. Rather than create a single code to handle such a system, our goal has been a robust, generic solution wherein pre-existing simulation codes are used sequentially. We have standardized on the use of Argonne National Laboratorys Self-Describing Data Sets file protocol for transfer of data among codes. The simulation codes used are PARMELA, elegant , and GENESIS. We describe the software methodology and its advantages, then provide examples involving Argonnes Low-Energy Undulator Test Line and Stanford Linear Accelerator Centers Linac Coherent Light Source. We also indicate possible future direction of this work.

Electron injection by a nanowire in the bubble regime

The triggering of wave-breaking in a three-dimensional laser plasma wake (bubble) is investigated. The Coulomb potential from a nanowire is used to disturb the wake field to initialize the wave-breaking. The electron acceleration becomes more stable and the laser power needed for self-trapping is lowered. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations were performed. Electrons with a charge of about 100 pC can be accelerated stably to energy about 170 MeV with a laser energy of 460 mJ. The first step towards tailoring the electron beam properties such as the energy, energy spread, and charge is discussed

FEL development at the Advanced Photon Source

Construction of a single-pass free-electron laser (FEL) based on the self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) mode of operation is nearing completion at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) with initial experiments imminent. The APS SASE FEL is a proof-of-principle fourth-generation light source. As of January 1999 the undulator hall, end-station building, necessary transfer lines, electron and optical diagnostics, injectors, and initial undulators have been constructed and, with the exception of the undulators, installed. All preliminary code development and simulations have also been completed. The undulator hall is now ready to accept first beam for characterization of the output radiation. It is the project goal to push towards full FEL saturation, initially in the visible, but ultimately to UV and VUV, wavelengths.

Multi-dimensional free-electron laser simulation codes: a comparison study☆

A self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL) is under construction at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). Five FEL simulation codes were used in the design phase: GENESIS, GINGER, MEDUSA, RON, and TDA3D. Initial comparisons between each of these independent formulations show good agreement for the parameters of the APS SASE FEL.

Planned use of pulsed crab cavities for short X-ray pulsed generation at the Advanced Photon Source

Recently, we have explored application to the Advanced Photon Source (APS) of Zholents[1] crab cavity scheme for production of short x-ray pulses. We assumed use of superconducting (SC) cavities in order to have a continuous stream of crabbed bunches and flexibility of operating modes. The challenges of the SC approach are related to the size, cost, and development time of the cavities and associated systems. A good case can be made [2] for a pulsed system using room-temperature cavities. APS has elected to pursue such a system in the near term, with the SC-based system planned for a later date. This paper describes the motivation for the pulsed system and gives an overview of the planned implementation and issues. Among these are overall configuration options and constraints, cavity design options, frequency choice, cavity design challenges, tolerances, instabilities, and diagnostics plans.

Present status and recent results from the APS SASE FEL

The Low-Energy Undulator Test Line (LEUTL) at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, is intended to demonstrate the basic operation of a SASE-based free-electron laser. Goals include comparison of experimental results With theoretical predictions and scaling laws, identification of problems relevant to fourth-generation light source construction and operation and the means of addressing them, the development of operational and diagnostic techniques to optimize SASE FEL performance and increase repeatability from run to run. and performance of initial pioneering experiments capable of exploiting the unique properties of the laser. The basic layout and operational philosophy of the LEUTL experiment is presented. A summary of past results, including saturation, is reviewed, and a description of recent results is presented. We conclude with future plans, which include pressing to shorter wavelengths and incorporating user experiments into the LEUTL experimental program. (Less)

Measurement of the longitudinal microwave instability in the APS storage ring

We studied a longitudinal, single-bunch instability in the Advanced Photon Source (APS) storage ring. Previous measurements showed significant bunch lengthening without a comparable growth in energy spread. Because the small dispersion at a bending magnet source point made it difficult to resolve the small change in the energy spread, we adjusted the lattice to make a dispersion bump within a sector, providing a large dispersion at the source point. The enhanced component from dispersion allowed us to measure the energy spread with greater accuracy. We observed anomalous growth in the energy spread beyond a threshold current of 7.2 mA with an rf voltage of 9.4 MV. The energy spread increased from 9.0E-4 to 9.8E-4 above the threshold current up to 10 mA. We also observed the appearance of the coherent signal at four times the synchrotron frequency beyond the threshold current, which indicates that the growth in energy spread is caused by a longitudinal instability.

Evidence for transverse dependencies in COTR and microbunching in a SASE FEL.

Using coherent optical transition radiation (COTR) techniques, we have observed transverse dependencies, which in some aspects relate to the electron beam microbunching in a visible wavelength (540 nm) self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL). The experimental COTR observations include the z-dependent e-beam sizes, the z-dependent angular distributions, and the z-dependent spectra (which show an x-dependence). A 30-40% narrowing of the observed beam size using COTR is explainable by the mechanisms dependence on the square of the number of microbunched particles. However, additional effects are needed to explain beam size reductions by factors of 2-3 at different z locations. Localized e-beam structure in the gun or induced in the bunch compression process may result in microbunching transverse dependence, and hence the observed COTR effects.

Comprehensive z-dependent measurements of electron-beam microbunching using COTR in a saturated SASE FEL☆

We report the initial, comprehensive set of z-dependent measurements of electron-beam microbunching using coherent optical transition radiation (COTR) in a saturated self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL) experiment. In this case the FEL was operated near 530 nm using an enhanced facility including a bunch-compressed photocathode gun electron beam, linac, and 21.6 m of undulator length. The longitudinal microbunching was tracked by inserting a metal foil and mirror after each of the nine 2.4-m-long undulators and measuring the visible COTR spectra, intensity, angular, distribution, and spot size. We observed for the first time the z-dependent transition of the COTR spectra from simple lines to complex structure/sidebands near saturation. We also observed the change in the microbunching fraction after saturation, multiple fringes in the COTR interferogram that are consistent with involvement of a smaller core of the e-beam transverse distribution, and the second harmonic content of the microbunching. The results will be compared to relevant calculations using GENESIS and/or GINGER.

Utilization of CTR to measure the evolution of electron-beam microbunching in a self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL)

We report on the first measurements of the z-dependent evolution of electron-beam microbunching as revealed through coherent transition radiation (CTR) measurements in a visible self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser experiment. The increase in microbunching was detected by tracking the growth of the visible CTR signals as generated from insertable metal mirrors/foils after each of the last three undulators. The same optical imaging diagnostics that were used to track the z-dependent intensity of the undulator radiation (UR) were also used to track the electron beam/CTR information. Angular distribution, beam size, and intensity data were obtained after each of the last three undulators in the five-undulator series, and spectral information was obtained after the last undulator. The exponential growth rate of the CTR was found to be very similar to that of the UR and consistent with simulations using the code GENESIS.