Abstract
The self-modulation instability is fundamental for the plasma wakefield acceleration experiment of the AWAKE (Advanced Wakefield Experiment) collaboration at CERN where this effect is used to generate proton bunches for the resonant excitation of high acceleration fields. Utilizing the availability of flexible electron beam shaping together with excellent diagnostics including an RF deflector, a supporting experiment was set up at the electron accelerator PITZ (Photo Injector Test facility at DESY, Zeuthen site), given that the underlying physics is the same. After demonstrating the effect [1] the next goal is to investigate in detail the self-modulation of long (with respect to the plasma wavelength) electron beams.In this contribution we describe parameter studies on self-modulation of a long electron bunch in an argon plasma. The plasma was generated with a discharge cell with densities in the 1013 cm−3 to 1015 cm−3 range. The plasma density was deduced from the plasma wavelength as indicated by the self-modulation period. Parameter scans were conducted with variable plasma density and electron bunch focusing.
Highlights
Motivated by the ongoing experiments of the AWAKE collaboration [2] the self-modulation instability [3] is investigated at the electron accelerator PITZ
In this contribution we describe parameter studies on self-modulation of a long electron bunch in an argon plasma
The bunch charge is adjustable by tuning the pulse energy of the photocathode laser, while the focusing of the bunch into the plasma cell can be scanned by changing the drive current of the gun solenoid
Summary
Motivated by the ongoing experiments of the AWAKE collaboration [2] the self-modulation instability [3] is investigated at the electron accelerator PITZ. This effect was demonstrated for the first time by utilizing a lithium heat pipe oven plasma cell [1]. A gun solenoid and four quadrupole magnets were used to focus these bunches into a heat pipe oven which provided a lithium plasma with densities up to 1014 cm-3. We describe a follow-up experiment using the same setup with the only difference that the lithium heat pipe oven was replaced with a discharge plasma cell [5]
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