ST Accel Research Articles

Reconstruction of x-ray free-electron laser pulse duration and energy chirp from spectral intensity fluctuations

Accurate measurements of the x-ray pulse duration produced by x-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) typically rely on longitudinal electron beam phase space diagnostics, e.g., an x-band transverse deflecting cavity (XTCAV). An alternative group of methods is based on measurements of radiation statistics and spectral correlations. In this paper, we present a statistical analysis of FEL radiation which extends the previous technique by Lutman et al. [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 15, 030705 (2012)], including the electron beam energy chirp in the FEL gain model. In doing so, we show that with measurements of the average spectrum and the spectral intensity correlations, one can reconstruct the x-ray pulse length, e-beam chirp, and corresponding spectrometer resolution. We validate our approach with 1D and 3D simulations before moving to an experimental demonstration in which our method finds results similar to those obtained from XTCAV measurements.

Rf cavity point-charge wakefield computation through a hybrid analytical and numerical approach

We study short-range geometric wakefields of a normal conducting third harmonic cavity, developed by ALBA, which is currently under investigation for the BESSY II main storage ring upgrade. As is commonly done to enhance the shunt impedance, the single cell cavity shape includes smooth nose-cone transitions to the outside beam pipe, which significantly affects the wakefields. Utilizing the general approach developed by the earlier work [B. Podobedov and G. Stupakov, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 16, 024401 (2013)], a model of point-charge wakefield for cavities of this type is suggested. The wakefield model consists of two parts: the singular part, inherently difficult for numerical codes, is found analytically, and the nonsingular part, which could be retrieved from relatively nondemanding numerical wakefield computations. Based on this hybrid approach, the wakefields due to arbitrary short bunches can be readily obtained both efficiently and accurately. The model was cross-checked against direct numerical simulations and a good agreement was found within the entire range of bunch lengths relevant to potential applications, from sub-millimeter down to $1\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{rms}$. We also observed that the wakefield model of a single cavity applies equally well to a small number of coupled cavities after some straightforward parameter scaling.

Generation of an isolated attosecond pulse via current modulation induced by a chirped laser pulse in an x-ray free-electron laser

Aiming for the future upgrade of a hard x-ray beamline at the Pohang accelerator laboratory x-ray free-electron laser (PAL-XFEL), we first analyze the scheme recently proposed for the attosecond-terawatt (TW) x-ray pulse [Phys. Rev. Lett.110, 084801 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.110.084801]. An x-ray pulse with 32 attosecond full-width half maximum (FWHM) pulse duration and ∼4 TW in power is shown in simulations using the PAL-XFEL parameters. Furthermore, to remove neighboring radiation pulses and to generate an isolated attosecond-TW x-ray pulse, the role of optical laser frequency chirp is examined on the electron beam current modulation as well as on the x-ray pulse generation in the undulator. Our simulations show an isolated x-ray pulse with 42 attosecond FWHM pulse duration and ∼3.5 TW in power for the optimal frequency chirp of a 400 nm optical laser. Recently, in a simpler method [J. Synchrotron Radiat.23, 1273 (2016)JSYRES0909-049510.1107/S1600577516013345] and [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams8, 040701 (2005)PRABFM1098-440210.1103/PhysRevSTAB.8.040701], using a frequency-chirped optical laser and the electron beam delays in between undulator sections, it has been reported that an isolated attosecond-TW x-ray pulse can be obtained at the undulator end. For optimal chirp in this simple setup, we show 50 attosecond FWHM pulse duration and ∼3 TW in power with ∼7.5×1010 photons per pulse at 0.1 nm radiation wavelength. Generation of such inherently synchronized, powerful single attosecond x-ray pulses at PAL-XFEL will be advantageous to the pump-probe experiments in the study of ultrafast dynamics.

Proton beam induced dynamics of tungsten granules

This paper reports the results from single-pulse experiments of a $440\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$ proton beam interacting with granular tungsten samples in both vacuum and helium environments. Remote high-speed photography and laser Doppler vibrometry were used to observe the effect of the beam on the sample grains. The majority of the results were derived from a trough containing $\ensuremath{\sim}45\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ diameter spheres (not compacted) reset between experiments to maintain the same initial conditions. Experiments were also carried out on other open and contained samples for the purposes of comparison both with the $45\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ grain results and with a previous experiment carried out with sub-$250\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ mixed crystalline tungsten powder in helium [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 17, 101005 (2014)]. The experiments demonstrate that a greater dynamic response is produced in a vacuum than in a helium environment and in smaller grains compared with larger grains. The examination of the dynamics of the grains after a beam impact leads to the hypothesis that the grain response is primarily the result of a charge interaction of the proton beam with the granular medium.

Publisher’s Note: Model-based optimization of tapered free-electron lasers [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 18 , 040702 (2015)

Publisher’s Note: Model-based optimization of tapered free-electron lasers [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams <b>18</b> , 040702 (2015)

Reconstruction of sub-femtosecond longitudinal bunch profile measurement data

With a current trend towards shorter electron beams with lengths on the order of few femtoseconds (fs) to sub-femtoseconds both in conventional and novel accelerator communities, the need for diagnostics with equivalent attosecond resolution is increasing. The proposed design for a sub-femtosecond diagnostic by Andonian et al. (2011, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 14 072802) is one such example that combines a laser deflector with an RF deflecting cavity to streak the electron beam in the horizontal and vertical direction. In this paper, we present a tool for the reconstruction of the longitudinal beam profile from this diagnostic data, which can be used both for the analysis of planned experiments and testing of different beam scenarios with respect to their specific setup requirements. Applying this method, the usefulness of the device for measurements in a number of example scenarios, including plasma-accelerated and ultrashort RF-accelerated electron beams, is discussed.

Conceptual design of a 15-TW pulsed-power accelerator for high-energy-density–physics experiments

We have developed a conceptual design of a 15-TW pulsed-power accelerator based on the linear-transformer-driver (LTD) architecture described by Stygar [W. A. Stygar et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 18, 110401 (2015)]. The driver will allow multiple, high-energy-density experiments per day in a university environment and, at the same time, will enable both fundamental and integrated experiments that are scalable to larger facilities. In this design, many individual energy storage units (bricks), each composed of two capacitors and one switch, directly drive the target load without additional pulse compression. Ten LTD modules in parallel drive the load. Each module consists of 16 LTD cavities connected in series, where each cavity is powered by 22 bricks connected in parallel. This design stores up to 2.75 MJ and delivers up to 15 TW in 100 ns to the constant-impedance, water-insulated radial transmission lines. The transmission lines in turn deliver a peak current as high as 12.5 MA to the physics load. To maximize its experimental value and flexibility, the accelerator is coupled to a modern, multibeam laser facility (four beams with up to 5 kJ in 10 ns and one beam with up to 2.6 kJ in 100 ps or less) that can provide auxiliary heating of the physics load. The lasers also enable advanced diagnostic techniques such as X-ray Thomson scattering and multiframe and three-dimensional radiography. The coupled accelerator-laser facility will be the first of its kind and be capable of conducting unprecedented high-energy-density–physics experiments.

Achievement of a low-loss 1-MW beam operation in the 3-GeV rapid cycling synchrotron of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex

The 3-GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) is now in the final beam commissioning phase, aiming for a design output beam power of 1 MW. With a series of injector linac upgrades in 2013 and 2014, RCS developed a high-intensity beam test, and launched 1-MW beam tuning in October 2014. The most important issues in realizing such a high-power continuous beam operation are to control and minimize beam loss for maintaining machine activations within permissible levels. In RCS, numerical simulation was successfully utilized along with experimental approaches to isolate the mechanism of beam loss and find its solution. By iteratively performing actual beam experiments and numerical simulations, and also by several hardware improvements, we have recently established a 1-MW beam operation with very low fractional beam loss of a couple of 10-3. In this paper, our recent efforts toward realizing such a low-loss high-intensity beam acceleration are presented as a follow-up of our previous article, H. Hotchi et al. Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 12, 040402 (2009)PRABFM1098-440210.1103/PhysRevSTAB.12.040402, in which the initial beam commissioning status of RCS has been reported.

Analysis and measurement of the transfer matrix of a 9-cell, 1.3-GHz superconducting cavity

Superconducting linacs are capable of producing intense, stable, high-quality electron beams that have found widespread applications in science and industry. The 9-cell 1.3-GHz superconducting standing-wave accelerating RF cavity originally developed for $e^+/e^-$ linear-collider applications [B. Aunes, {\em et al.} Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams {\bf 3}, 092001 (2000)] has been broadly employed in various superconducting-linac designs. In this paper we discuss the transfer matrix of such a cavity and present its measurement performed at the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility. The experimental results are found to be in agreement with analytical calculations and numerical simulations.

Conditions for coherent-synchrotron-radiation-induced microbunching suppression in multibend beam transport or recirculation arcs

The coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) of a high-brightness electron beam traversing a series of dipoles, such as transport or recirculation arcs, may result in beam phase space degradation. On one hand, CSR can perturb electron transverse motion in dispersive regions along the beam line and possibly cause emittance growth. On the other hand, the CSR effect on the longitudinal beam dynamics could result in microbunching instability. For transport arcs, several schemes have been proposed to suppress the CSR-induced emittance growth. Correspondingly, a few scenarios have been introduced to suppress CSR-induced microbunching instability, which however mostly aim for linac-based machines. In this paper we provide sufficient conditions for suppression of CSR-induced microbunching instability along transport or recirculation arcs. Examples are presented with the relevant microbunching analyses carried out by our developed semianalytical Vlasov solver [C.-Y. Tsai, D. Douglas, R. Li, and C. Tennant, Linear microbunching analysis for recirculation machines, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 19, (2016)]. The example lattices include low-energy ($\ensuremath{\sim}100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$) and high-energy ($\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$) recirculation arcs, and medium-energy compressor arcs. Our studies show that lattices satisfying the proposed conditions indeed have microbunching gain suppressed. Beam current dependences of maximal CSR microbunching gains are also demonstrated, which should help outline a beam line design for different scales of nominal currents. We expect this analysis can shed light on the lattice design approach that aims to control the CSR-induced microbunching.

Cold vacuum chamber for diagnostics: Analysis of the measurements at the Diamond Light Source and impedance bench measurements

The beam heat load is an important input parameter needed for the cryogenic design of superconducting insertion devices. Theoretical models taking into account the different heating mechanisms of an electron beam to a cold bore predict smaller values than the ones measured with several superconducting insertion devices installed in different electron storage rings. In order to measure and possibly understand the beam heat load to a cold bore, a cold vacuum chamber for diagnostics (COLDDIAG) has been built. COLDDIAG is equipped with temperature sensors, pressure gauges, mass spectrometers as well as retarding field analyzers which allow to measure the beam heat load, total pressure, and gas content as well as the flux of particles hitting the chamber walls. COLDDIAG was installed in a straight section of the Diamond Light Source (DLS). In a previous paper the experimental equipment as well as the installation of COLDDIAG in the DLS are described [S. Gerstl et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 17, 103201 (2014)]. In this paper we present an overview of all the measurements performed with COLDDIAG at the DLS and their detailed analysis, as well as impedance bench measurements of the cold beam vacuum chamber performed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology after removal from the DLS. Relevant conclusions for the cryogenic design of superconducting insertion devices are drawn from the obtained results.

Erratum: Using surface impedance for calculating wakefields in flat geometry [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams18, 034401 (2015)

Received 27 January 2016DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.19.039901This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.Published by the American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasImpedanceAccelerators & Beams

Scaling magnetized liner inertial fusion on Z and future pulsed-power accelerators

The MagLIF (Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion) concept [S. A. Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)] has demonstrated fusion–relevant plasma conditions [M. R. Gomez et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 155003 (2014)] on the Z accelerator with a peak drive current of about 18 MA. We present 2D numerical simulations of the scaling of MagLIF on Z as a function of drive current, preheat energy, and applied magnetic field. The results indicate that deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion yields greater than 100 kJ could be possible on Z when all of these parameters are at the optimum values: i.e., peak current = 25 MA, deposited preheat energy = 5 kJ, and Bz = 30 T. Much higher yields have been predicted [S. A. Slutz and R. A. Vesey, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 025003 (2012)] for MagLIF driven with larger peak currents. Two high performance pulsed-power accelerators (Z300 and Z800) based on linear-transformer-driver technology have been designed [W. A. Stygar et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 18, 110401 (2015)]. The Z300 design would provide 48 MA to a MagLIF load, while Z800 would provide 65 MA. Parameterized Thevenin-equivalent circuits were used to drive a series of 1D and 2D numerical MagLIF simulations with currents ranging from what Z can deliver now to what could be achieved by these conceptual future pulsed-power accelerators. 2D simulations of simple MagLIF targets containing just gaseous DT have yields of 18 MJ for Z300 and 440 MJ for Z800. The 2D simulated yield for Z800 is increased to 7 GJ by adding a layer of frozen DT ice to the inside of the liner.

Experimental evidence of space charge driven resonances in high intensity linear accelerators

In the construction of high intensity accelerators, it is the utmost goal to minimize the beam loss by avoiding or minimizing contributions of various halo formation mechanisms. As a halo formation mechanism, space charge driven resonances are well known for circular accelerators. However, the recent finding showed that even in linear accelerators the space charge potential can excite the $4\ensuremath{\sigma}=360\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ fourth order resonance [D. Jeon et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 12, 054204 (2009)]. This study increased the interests in space charge driven resonances of linear accelerators. Experimental studies of the space charge driven resonances of high intensity linear accelerators are rare as opposed to the multitude of simulation studies. This paper presents an experimental evidence of the space charge driven $4\ensuremath{\sigma}=360\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ resonance and the $2{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{x(y)}\ensuremath{-}2{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{z}=0$ resonance of a high intensity linear accelerator through beam profile measurements from multiple wire-scanners. Measured beam profiles agree well with the characteristics of the space charge driven $4\ensuremath{\sigma}=360\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ resonance and the $2{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{x(y)}\ensuremath{-}2{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{z}=0$ resonance that are predicted by the simulation.

Conceptual designs of two petawatt-class pulsed-power accelerators for high-energy-density-physics experiments

Here, we have developed conceptual designs of two petawatt-class pulsed-power accelerators: Z 300 and Z 800. The designs are based on an accelerator architecture that is founded on two concepts: single-stage electrical-pulse compression and impedance matching [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 10, 030401 (2007)]. The prime power source of each machine consists of 90 linear-transformer-driver (LTD) modules. Each module comprises LTD cavities connected electrically in series, each of which is powered by 5-GW LTD bricks connected electrically in parallel. (A brick comprises a single switch and two capacitors in series.) Six water-insulated radial-transmission-line impedance transformers transport the power generated by the modules to a six-level vacuum-insulator stack. The stack serves as the accelerator’s water-vacuum interface. The stack is connected to six conical outer magnetically insulated vacuum transmission lines (MITLs), which are joined in parallel at a 10-cm radius by a triple-post-hole vacuum convolute. The convolute sums the electrical currents at the outputs of the six outer MITLs, and delivers the combined current to a single short inner MITL. The inner MITL transmits the combined current to the accelerator’s physics-package load. Z 300 is 35 m in diameter and stores 48 MJ of electrical energy in its LTD capacitors. The acceleratormore » generates 320 TW of electrical power at the output of the LTD system, and delivers 48 MA in 154 ns to a magnetized-liner inertial-fusion (MagLIF) target [Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)]. The peak electrical power at the MagLIF target is 870 TW, which is the highest power throughout the accelerator. Power amplification is accomplished by the centrally located vacuum section, which serves as an intermediate inductive-energy-storage device. The principal goal of Z 300 is to achieve thermonuclear ignition; i.e., a fusion yield that exceeds the energy transmitted by the accelerator to the liner. 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations suggest Z 300 will deliver 4.3 MJ to the liner, and achieve a yield on the order of 18 MJ. Z 800 is 52 m in diameter and stores 130 MJ. This accelerator generates 890 TW at the output of its LTD system, and delivers 65 MA in 113 ns to a MagLIF target. The peak electrical power at the MagLIF liner is 2500 TW. The principal goal of Z 800 is to achieve high-yield thermonuclear fusion; i.e., a yield that exceeds the energy initially stored by the accelerator’s capacitors. 2D MHD simulations suggest Z 800 will deliver 8.0 MJ to the liner, and achieve a yield on the order of 440 MJ. Z 300 and Z 800, or variations of these accelerators, will allow the international high-energy-density-physics community to conduct advanced inertial-confinement-fusion, radiation-physics, material-physics, and laboratory-astrophysics experiments over heretofore-inaccessible parameter regimes.« less

High intensity single bunch operation with heavy periodic transient beam loading in wide band rf cavities

The rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) was originally designed to accelerate two high intensity bunches, while some of neutron experiments in the materials and life science experimental facility and a muon experiment using main ring beams require a single bunch operation mode, in which one of the two rf buckets is filled and the other is empty. The beam intensity in the single bunch operation has been limited by longitudinal beam losses due to the rf bucket distortions by the wake voltage of the odd harmonics ($h=1,3,5$) in the wide band magnetic alloy cavities. We installed an additional rf feedforward system to compensate the wake voltages of the odd harmonics ($h=1,3,5$). The additional system has a similar structure as the existing feedforward system for the even harmonics ($h=2,4,6$). We describe the function of the feedforward system for the odd harmonics, the commissioning methodology, and the commissioning results. The longitudinal beam losses during the single bunch acceleration disappeared with feedforward for the odd harmonics. We also confirmed that the beam quality in the single bunch acceleration are similar to that of the normal operation with two bunches. Thus, high intensity single bunch acceleration at the intensity of $2.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}$ protons per bunch has been achieved in the J-PARC RCS. This article is a follow-up of our previous article, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 14, 051004 (2011). The feedforward system extension for single bunch operation was successful.

Scattering effects in passive foil focusing of ion beams

A stack of thin, closely spaced conducting foils has been investigated by Lund et al. [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 16, 044202 (2013)] as a passive focusing lens for intense ion beams. The foils mitigate space-charge defocusing forces to enable the beam self-magnetic field to focus. In this study, we analyze possible degradation of focusing due to scattering of beam ions resulting from finite foil thickness using an envelope model and numerical simulations with the particle-in-cell code WARP. Ranges of kinetic energy where scattering effects are sufficient to destroy passive focusing are quantified. The scheme may be utilized to focus protons produced in intense laser-solid accelerator schemes. As an example, the spot size of an initially collimated 30 MeV proton beam with initial rms radius $200\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$, perveance $Q=1.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, and initial transverse emittance ${ϵ}_{x,\mathrm{rms}}=0.87\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mm}\text{ }\mathrm{mrad}$ propagating through a stack of $6.4\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ thick foils, spaced $100\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ apart, gives a $127.5\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ spot with scattering and a $81.0\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ spot without scattering, illustrating the importance of including scattering effects.

Initiation of vacuum insulator surface high-voltage flashover with electrons produced by laser illumination

In this paper, experiments are described in which cylindrical vacuum insulator samples and samples inclined at 45° relative to the cathode were stressed by microsecond timescale high-voltage pulses and illuminated by focused UV laser beam pulses. In these experiments, we were able to distinguish between flashover initiated by the laser producing only photo-electrons and when plasma is formed. It was shown that flashover is predominantly initiated near the cathode triple junction. Even dense plasma formed near the anode triple junction does not necessarily lead to vacuum surface flashover. The experimental results directly confirm our conjecture that insulator surface breakdown can be avoided by preventing its initiation [J. G. Leopold et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 10, 060401 (2007)] and complement our previous experimental results [J. Z. Gleizer et al., IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul. 21, 2394 (2014) and J. Z. Gleizer et al., J. Appl. Phys. 117, 073301 (2015)].

Erratum: Chromaticity of the lattice and beam stability in energy recovery linacs [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams15, 074401 (2012)

Received 25 November 2014DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.18.039901This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.Published by the American Physical Society

Resistive wall wakefields of short bunches at cryogenic temperatures

In this study, we present calculations of the longitudinal wakefields at cryogenic temperatures for extremely short bunches, characteristic for modern x-ray free electron lasers. The calculations are based on the equations for the surface impedance in the regime of the anomalous skin effect in metals. This paper extends and complements an earlier analysis of B. Podobedov, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 12, 044401 (2009). into the region of very high frequencies associated with bunch lengths in the micron range. We study in detail the case of a rectangular bunch distribution for parameters of interest of LCLS-II with a superconducting undulator.