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The conversion of light into chemical and mechanical energy mediates many important processes in nature, e.g. vision, photosynthesis and DNA photodamage. To understand the structure-function relationships regulating such processes one must strive to study them in their natural environment, i.e. in the liquid-phase. This presentation reports on the design of a novel Ultrafast Electron Diffraction instrument capable of resolving structural dynamics in liquid samples. The capabilities of this instrument are showcased in the study of water, where its structure was resolved up to the 3rd hydration shell with 0.6 A spatial resolution, and dynamics were resolved with 200 fs resolution.

The conversion of light into usable chemical and mechanical energy is pivotal to several biological and chemical processes, many of which occur in solution. To understand the structure–function relationships mediating these processes, a technique with high spatial and temporal resolutions is required. Here, we report on the design and commissioning of a liquid-phase mega-electron-volt (MeV) ultrafast electron diffraction instrument for the study of structural dynamics in solution. Limitations posed by the shallow penetration depth of electrons and the resulting information loss due to multiple scattering and the technical challenge of delivering liquids to vacuum were overcome through the use of MeV electrons and a gas-accelerated thin liquid sheet jet. To demonstrate the capabilities of this instrument, the structure of water and its network were resolved up to the 3 rd hydration shell with a spatial resolution of 0.6 Å; preliminary time-resolved experiments demonstrated a temporal resolution of 200 fs.

Astrophysics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 7 Dept. of Physics, Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. 8 Dept. of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. 9 Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Univ. of Hawaii, Manoa, HI 96822, USA. 10SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA. 11Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie, Institut fur Kernphysik , 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany. 12Physics Dept., College of William & Mary, Williamsburg VA 23187, USA. 13Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 14Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie, Institut fur Experimentelle Kernphysik, 76128 Karlsruhe

Building more compact accelerators to deliver high brightness electron beams for the generation of high flux, highly coherent radiation is a priority for the photon science community. A relatively straightforward reduction in footprint can be achieved by using high-gradient X-band (11.4 GHz) rf technology. To this end, an X-band injector consisting of a 5.5 cell rf gun and a 1-m long linac has been commissioned at SLAC. It delivers an 85 MeV electron beam with peak brightness somewhat better than that achieved in S-band photoinjectors, such as the one developed for the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The X-band rf gun operates with up to a 200 MV/m peak field on the cathode, and has been used to produce bunches of a few pC to 1.2 nC in charge. Notably, bunch lengths as short as 120 fs rms have been measured for charges of 5 pC (∼3×10^{7} electrons), and normalized transverse emittances as small as 0.22 mm-mrad have been measured for this same charge level. Bunch lengths as short as 400 (250) fs rms have been achieved for electron bunches of 100 (20) pC with transverse normalized emittances of 0.7 (0.35) mm-mrad. We report on the performance and the lessons learned from the operation and optimization of this first generation X-band gun.

We present results on ultrafast gas electron diffraction (UGED) experiments with femtosecond resolution using the MeV electron gun at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. UGED is a promising method to investigate molecular dynamics in the gas phase because electron pulses can probe the structure with a high spatial resolution. Until recently, however, it was not possible for UGED to reach the relevant timescale for the motion of the nuclei during a molecular reaction. Using MeV electron pulses has allowed us to overcome the main challenges in reaching femtosecond resolution, namely delivering short electron pulses on a gas target, overcoming the effect of velocity mismatch between pump laser pulses and the probe electron pulses, and maintaining a low timing jitter. At electron kinetic energies above 3 MeV, the velocity mismatch between laser and electron pulses becomes negligible. The relativistic electrons are also less susceptible to temporal broadening due to the Coulomb force. One of the challenges of diffraction with relativistic electrons is that the small de Broglie wavelength results in very small diffraction angles. In this paper we describe the new setup and its characterization, including capturing static diffraction patterns of molecules in the gas phase, finding time-zero with sub-picosecond accuracy and first time-resolved diffraction experiments. The new device can achieve a temporal resolution of 100 fs root-mean-square, and sub-angstrom spatial resolution. The collimation of the beam is sufficient to measure the diffraction pattern, and the transverse coherence is on the order of 2 nm. Currently, the temporal resolution is limited both by the pulse duration of the electron pulse on target and by the timing jitter, while the spatial resolution is limited by the average electron beam current and the signal-to-noise ratio of the detection system. We also discuss plans for improving both the temporal resolution and the spatial resolution.

Charged particle radiography with 800 MeV protons has been used for decades at LANL and developed around the world to study dynamic material properties. Recently, charged particle radiography has been demonstrated with the use of high-energy electrons. Because of the difference in the mass of the electron compared to the mass of the proton, the radiographic processes are substantially different and well suited to the study of fast dynamic processes in relatively thin systems. This presentation will show the layout required for such measurements, along with data collected from this recent demonstration performed with 14 GeV electrons generated at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The radiographic performance for flash measurements will be presented, along with the limitations of this measurement technique.

Purpose: To measure radiation dose in a water-equivalent medium from very high-energy electron (VHEE) beams and make comparisons to Monte Carlo (MC) simulation results. Methods: Dose in a polystyrene phantom delivered by an experimental VHEE beam line was measured with Gafchromic films for three 50 MeV and two 70 MeV Gaussian beams of 4.0–6.9 mm FWHM and compared to corresponding MC-simulated dose distributions. MC dose in the polystyrene phantom was calculated with the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc codes based on the experimental setup. Additionally, the effect of 2% beam energy measurement uncertainty and possible non-zero beam angular spread on MC dose distributions was evaluated. Results: MC simulated percentage depth dose (PDD) curves agreed with measurements within 4% for all beam sizes at both 50 and 70 MeV VHEE beams. Central axis PDD at 8 cm depth ranged from 14% to 19% for the 5.4–6.9 mm 50 MeV beams and it ranged from 14% to 18% for the 4.0–4.5 mm 70 MeV beams. MC simulated relative beam profiles of regularly shaped Gaussian beams evaluated at depths of 0.64 to 7.46 cm agreed with measurements to within 5%. A 2% beam energy uncertainty and 0.286° beam angular spread corresponded to a maximum 3.0% and 3.8% difference in depth dose curves of the 50 and 70 MeV electron beams, respectively. Absolute dose differences between MC simulations and film measurements of regularly shaped Gaussian beams were between 10% and 42%. Conclusions: The authors demonstrate that relative dose distributions for VHEE beams of 50–70 MeV can be measured with Gafchromic films and modeled with Monte Carlo simulations to an accuracy of 5%. The reported absolute dose differences likely caused by imperfect beam steering and subsequent charge loss revealed the importance of accurate VHEE beam control and diagnostics.

We report generation of density modulation at terahertz (THz) frequencies in a relativistic electron beam through laser modulation of the beam longitudinal phase space. We show that by modulating the energy distribution of the beam with two lasers, density modulation at the difference frequency of the two lasers can be generated after the beam passes through a chicane. In this experiment, density modulation around 10 THz was generated by down-converting the frequencies of an 800 nm laser and a 1550 nm laser. The central frequency of the density modulation can be tuned by varying the laser wavelengths, beam energy chirp, or momentum compaction of the chicane. This technique can be applied to accelerator-based light sources for generation of coherent THz radiation and marks a significant advance toward tunable narrow band THz sources.

Echo-enabled harmonic generation free electron lasers hold great promise for the generation of fully coherent radiation in x-ray wavelengths. Here we report the first evidence of high harmonics from the echo-enabled harmonic generation technique in the realistic scenario where the laser energy modulation is comparable to the beam slice energy spread. In this experiment, coherent radiation at the seventh harmonic of the second seed laser is generated when the energy modulation amplitude is about 2-3 times the slice energy spread. The experiment confirms the underlying physics of echo-enabled harmonic generation and may have a strong impact on emerging seeded x-ray free electron lasers that are capable of generating laserlike x rays which will advance many areas of science.

We report the first experimental demonstration of the echo-enabled harmonic generation technique, which holds great promise for generation of high-power, fully coherent short-wavelength radiation. In this experiment, coherent radiation at the 3rd and 4th harmonics of the second seed laser is generated from the so-called beam echo effect. The experiment confirms the physics behind this technique and paves the way for applying the echo-enabled harmonic generation technique for seeded x-ray free electron lasers. © 2010 The American Physical Society.

We present a multimode $X$-band rf pulse compression system suitable for a TeV-scale electron-positron linear collider such as the Next Linear Collider (NLC). The NLC main linac operating frequency is 11.424 GHz. A single NLC rf unit is required to produce 400 ns pulses with 475 MW of peak power. Each rf unit should power approximately 5 m of accelerator structures. The rf unit design consists of two 75 MW klystrons and a dual-moded resonant-delay-line pulse compression system that produces a flat output pulse. The pulse compression system components are all overmoded, and most components are designed to operate with two modes. This approach allows high-power-handling capability while maintaining a compact, inexpensive system. We detail the design of this system and present experimental cold test results. We describe the design and performance of various components. The high-power testing of the system is verified using four 50 MW solenoid-focused klystrons run off a common 400 kV solid-state modulator. The system has produced 400 ns rf pulses of greater than 500 MW. We present the layout of our system, which includes a dual-moded transmission waveguide system and a dual-moded resonant line (SLED-II) pulse compression system. We also present data on the processing and operation of this system, which has set high-power records in coherent and phase controlled pulsed rf.

Accelerator structures of a wide variety have been damaged by RF breakdowns. Very little is known about the mechanisms that cause the breakdown and the damage although there has been theoretical work. Using an array of ultrasonic acoustic emission sensors we have been able to locate and classify breakdown events more accurately than possible using microwave techniques. Data from the technique has led to improvements in the design of the NLC X-band RF structure. We report results of acoustic emission studies at the DESY TESLA Test Facility and the SLAC NLC Test Accelerator.

Since 1996, the transverse beam sizes at the SLC interaction point (IP) can be determined with a 'laser wire', by detecting the rate of Compton-scattered photons as a function of the beam-laser separation in space. Nominal laser parameters are: 350 nm wavelength, 2 mJ energy per pulse, 40 Hz repetition rate, and 150 ps FWHM pulse length. The laser system is presently being modified to enable measurements of the longitudinal beam profile. For this purpose, two laser pulses of slightly different frequency are superimposed, which creates a travelling fringe pattern and, thereby, introduces a bunch-to-bunch variation of the Compton rate. The magnitude of this variation depends on the beat wavelength and on the Fourier transform of the longitudinal distribution. This laser heterodyne technique is implemented by adding a l-km long optical fibre at the laser oscillator output, which produces a linearly chirped laser pulse with 4.5-A linewidth and 60-ps FWHM pulse length. Also, the pulse is amplified in a regenerative amplifier and tripled with two nonlinear crystals. Then a Michelson interferometer spatially overlaps two split chirped pulses, which are temporally shifted with respect to each other, generating a quasi-sinusoidal adjustable fringe pattern. This laser pulse is then transported to the Interaction Point.

RF processing studies of 1.8-m X-band (11.4 GHz) traveling wave structures at the Next Linear Collider Test Accelerator (NLCTA) have revealed breakdown-related damage at gradients lower than expected from earlier tests with standing wave and shorter, lower group velocity traveling wave structures. To understand this difference, a series of structures with different group velocities and lengths are being processed. In parallel, efforts are being made to improve processing procedures and to reduce structure contaminants and absorbed gases. This paper presents results from these studies., Presented at the 2001 Particle Accelerator Conference, Chicago, Il., June 18-22, 2001

We have constructed and tested a 2 um resolution beam profile monitor based on optical transition radiation (OTR). Theoretical studies of OTR [1] show that extremely high resolution, of the order of the wavelength of the light detected, is possible. Such high‐resolution single pulse profile monitors will be very useful for future free electron laser and linear collider projects. Using the very low emittance 1.3 GeV electron beam at the KEK Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) [2] (1.4nm ex × 15pm ey), we have imaged transition radiation from 5 micron σ beam spots. Our test device consisted of a finely polished target, a thin fused silica window, a 35 mm working distance microscope objective (5x and 10x) and a triggered CCD camera. A wire scanner located near the target is used to verify the profile monitor performance. In this paper we report results of beam tests.

Short period, high field undulators have been shown to permit operation of x-ray free-electron lasers with short gain-lengths, and at unprecedented short wavelengths. In addition, the reduced beam energy required to reach resonance with a given radiation wavelength in short period undulators could prove useful in advanced inverse free-electron laser (IFEL) seeding schemes for future light sources, such as high-gain harmonic generation and echo-enabled harmonic generation, or in IFEL acceleration. We report here the in situ beam testing of a 9 mm period length cryogenic undulator having undulator parameter near unity in the context appropriate for advanced seeding and acceleration schemes, a linear accelerator. Because of the short period length of the undulator, a 47 MeV high-brightness electron beam could be used to produce near infrared photons via the undulator radiation mechanism. The undulator radiation was observed through a filter and the spectral response of the undulator is compared to simulation. Finally, an 800 nm seed laser was introduced in order to generate an energy modulation via the IFEL mechanism. Resonance between the electron beam and the laser seed was achieved without detailed knowledge of the temperature dependent undulator magnetic field through the observation of the undulator radiation. The energy modulation (and concomitant energy spread increase) of the electron beam was observed both directly in an electron beam spectrometer and indirectly via coherent transition radiation after conversion to a density modulation in a longitudinally dispersive chicane.

A general overview of a new control system for SLAC klystrons is presented along with a detailed description of the remote controller for measurement and control of accelerator components.

Both rings of PEP-II use drift tube kickers in the longitudinal bunch-by-bunch feedback system. Efforts are now underway to increase the stored beam currents and luminosity of PEP-II, and beam-induced heating of these structures, particularly in the low energy ring (LER) is of concern. An alternative kicker design based on the over-damped cavity kicker, first developed by INFN-Frascati is being built for PEP-II. This low loaded Q (or wide bandwidth) structure is fed by a network of ridged waveguides coupled to a simple pill-box cavity. Beam induced RF power is also coupled out of the cavity to external loads, so that the higher order modes (HOMs) excited in the structure are well-damped. This paper details the kicker design for PEP-II and discusses some of the design trade-offs between shunt impedance and bandwidth, as well as the influence of the feedthroughs on the kicker parameters. Estimates of the expected power deposition in the cavity are also provided

An x-ray beam-size monitor for positrons in the lowenergy ring (LER) of the PEP-II B Factory at SLAC is being designed to accommodate the present 2-A, 3.1-GeV beam and anticipated currents of up to 4.7 A. The final photon stop of an arc will be rebuilt to pass dipole radiation through cooled apertures to optics 17 m from the source. The initial installation will use pinhole optics with a calculated resolution of 35 µm. We then plan an upgrade using zone-plate imaging to obtain a resolution of 6 µm. Two multilayer x-ray mirrors precede the zone plate, limiting the bandwidth to 1%, in order to avoid chromatic blurring and protect the zone plate. Despite the narrow bandwidth, the zone plate’s larger diameter compared to a pinhole camera allows for a comparable photon flux. We will image all of the available 1700 LER bunches and also measure them individually, searching for variations along the train due to electron-cloud and beam-beam effects, using a scanning detector conceptually derived from a wire scanner. A mask with three narrow slots at different orientations will scan the image to obtain three projections. In one passage, signals from a fast scintillator and photomultiplier will be rapidly digitized and sorted to profile each bunch.

During the past five years, there has been an concerted program at SLAC and KEK to develop accelerator structures that meet the high gradient (65 MV/m) performance requirements for the Next Linear Collider (NLC) and Global Linear Collider (GLC) initiatives. The design that resulted is a 60-cm-long, traveling-wave structure with low group velocity and 150 degree per cell phase advance. It has an average iris size that produces an acceptable short-range wakefield, and dipole mode damping and detuning that adequately suppresses the long-range wakefield. More than eight such structures have operated at a 60 Hz repetition rate over 1000 hours at 65 MV/m with 400 ns long pulses, and have reached breakdown rate levels below the limit for the linear collider. Moreover, the structures are robust in that the rates continue to decrease over time, and if the structures are briefly exposed to air, the rates recover to their low levels within a few days. This paper presents a summary of the results from this program, which effectively ended last August with the selection of ‘cold’ technology for an International Linear Collider (ILC).