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We study the propagation of 0.05-1 TW power, ultrafast laser pulses in a 10 meter long rubidium vapor cell. The central wavelength of the laser is resonant with the $D_2$ line of rubidium and the peak intensity in the $10^{12}-10^{14} ~W/cm^2$ range, enough to create a plasma channel with single electron ionization. We observe the absorption of the laser pulse for low energy, a regime of transverse confinement of the laser beam by the strong resonant nonlinearity for higher energies and the transverse broadening of the output beam when the nonlinearity is saturated due to full medium ionization. We compare experimental observations of transmitted pulse energy and transverse fluence profile with the results of computer simulations modeling pulse propagation. We find a qualitative agreement between theory and experiment that corroborates the validity of our propagation model. While the quantitative differences are substantial, the results show that the model can be used to interpret the observed phenomena in terms of self-focusing and channeling of the laser pulses by the saturable nonlinearity and the transparency of the fully ionized medium along the propagation axis., Comment: 12 pages, 10 Figures

We present numerical simulations and experimental results of the self-modulation of a long proton bunch in a plasma with linear density gradients along the beam path. Simulation results agree with the experimental results reported in arXiv:2007.14894v2: with negative gradients, the charge of the modulated bunch is lower than with positive gradients. In addition, the bunch modulation frequency varies with gradient. Simulation results show that dephasing of the wakefields with respect to the relativistic protons along the plasma is the main cause for the loss of charge. The study of the modulation frequency reveals details about the evolution of the self-modulation process along the plasma. In particular for negative gradients, the modulation frequency across time-resolved images of the bunch indicates the position along the plasma where protons leave the wakefields. Simulations and experimental results are in excellent agreement., Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures

A precise characterization of the incoming proton bunch parameters is required to accurately simulate the self-modulation process in the Advanced Wakefield Experiment (AWAKE). This paper presents an analysis of the parameters of the incoming proton bunches used in the later stages of the AWAKE Run 1 data-taking period. The transverse structure of the bunch is observed at multiple positions along the beamline using scintillating or optical transition radiation screens. The parameters of a model that describes the bunch transverse dimensions and divergence are fitted to represent the observed data using Bayesian inference. The analysis is tested on simulated data and then applied to the experimental data. A precise characterization of the incoming proton bunch parameters is required to accurately simulate the self-modulation process in the Advanced Wakefield Experiment (AWAKE). This paper presents an analysis of the parameters of the incoming proton bunches used in the later stages of the AWAKE Run 1 data-taking period. The transverse structure of the bunch is observed at multiple positions along the beamline using scintillating or optical transition radiation screens. The parameters of a model that describes the bunch transverse dimensions and divergence are fitted to represent the observed data using Bayesian inference. The analysis is tested on simulated data and then applied to the experimental data.

We study experimentally the effect of linear plasma density gradients on the self-modulation of a 400\,GeV proton bunch. Results show that a positive/negative gradient in/decreases the number of micro-bunches and the relative charge per micro-bunch observed after 10\,m of plasma. The measured modulation frequency also in/decreases. With the largest positive gradient we observe two frequencies in the modulation power spectrum. Results are consistent with changes in wakefields' phase velocity due to plasma density gradient adding to the slow wakefields' phase velocity during self-modulation growth predicted by linear theory., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures

We study experimentally the longitudinal and transverse wakefields driven by a highly relativistic proton bunch during self-modulation in plasma. We show that the wakefields' growth and amplitude increase with increasing seed amplitude as well as with the proton bunch charge in the plasma. We study transverse wakefields using the maximum radius of the proton bunch distribution measured on a screen downstream from the plasma. We study longitudinal wakefields by externally injecting electrons and measuring their final energy. Measurements agree with trends predicted by theory and numerical simulations and validate our understanding of the development of self-modulation. Experiments were performed in the context of the Advanced Wakefield Experiment (AWAKE)., 4 figures

The AWAKE experiment requires an automated online rubidium (Rb) plasma density and gradient diagnostic for densities between 1 and 10$\cdot$10$^{14}$ cm$^{-3}$. A linear density gradient along the plasma source at the percent level may be useful to improve the electron acceleration process. Because of full laser ionization of Rb vapor to Rb$^{+}$ within a radius of 1 mm, the plasma density equals the vapor density. We measure the Rb vapor densities at both ends of the source, with high precision using, white light interferometry. At either source end, broadband laser light passes a remotely controlled Mach-Zehnder interferometer built out of single mode fibers. The resulting interference signal, influenced by dispersion in the vicinity of the Rb D1 and D2 transitions, is dispersed in wavelength by a spectrograph. Fully automated Fourier-based signal conditioning and a fit algorithm yield the density with an uncertainty between the measurements at both ends of 0.11 to 0.46 $\%$ over the entire density range. These densities used to operate the plasma source are displayed live in the control room., Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures, EAAC2017 conference proceeding

The advanced wakefield experiment (AWAKE) at CERN is the first proton beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration experiment. The main goal of AWAKE RUN 1 was to demonstrate seeded self-modulation (SSM) of the proton beam and electron witness beam acceleration in the plasma wakefield. For the AWAKE experiment, a 10-meter-long Rubidium-vapor cell together with a high-power laser for ionization was used to generate the plasma. The plasma wakefield is driven by a 400 GeV/c proton beam extracted from the super proton synchrotron (SPS), which undergoes a seeded self-modulation process in the plasma. The electron witness beam used to probe the wakefields is generated from an S-band RF photo-cathode gun and then accelerated by a booster structure up to energies between 16 and 20 MeV. The first run of the AWAKE experiment revealed that the maximum energy gain after the plasma cell is 2 GeV, and the SSM mechanism of the proton beam was verified. In this paper, we will present the details of the AWAKE electron injector. A comparison of the measured electron beam parameters, such as beam size, energy, and normalized emittance, with the simulation results was performed.

In this article, we briefly summarize the experiments performed during the first run of the Advanced Wakefield Experiment, AWAKE, at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). The final goal of AWAKE Run 1 (2013-2018) was to demonstrate that 10-20 MeV electrons can be accelerated to GeV energies in a plasma wakefield driven by a highly relativistic self-modulated proton bunch. We describe the experiment, outline the measurement concept and present first results. Last, we outline our plans for the future. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Directions in particle beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration'.

The Advanced Proton Driven Plasma Wakefield Acceleration Experiment (AWAKE) aims at studying plasma wakefield generation and electron acceleration driven by proton bunches. It is a proof-of-principle R&D experiment at CERN and the world's first proton driven plasma wakefield acceleration experiment. The AWAKE experiment will be installed in the former CNGS facility and uses the 400 GeV/c proton beam bunches from the SPS. The first experiments will focus on the self-modulation instability of the long (rms ~12 cm) proton bunch in the plasma. These experiments are planned for the end of 2016. Later, in 2017/2018, low energy (~15 MeV) electrons will be externally injected to sample the wakefields and be accelerated beyond 1 GeV. The main goals of the experiment will be summarized. A summary of the AWAKE design and construction status will be presented., 7 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables

We measure the effects of transverse wakefields driven by a relativistic proton bunch in plasma with densities of 2.1×1014 and 7.7×1014 electrons/cm3. We show that these wakefields periodically defocus the proton bunch itself, consistently with the development of the seeded self-modulation process. We show that the defocusing increases both along the bunch and along the plasma by using time resolved and time-integrated measurements of the proton bunch transverse distribution. We evaluate the transverse wakefield amplitudes and show that they exceed their seed value (

AWAKE develops a new plasma wakefield accelerator using the CERN SPS proton bunch as a driver Muggli et al. (2017). The proton bunch propagates through a 10m long rubidium plasma, induced by an ionizing laser pulse. The co-propagation of the laser pulse with the proton bunch seeds the self modulation instability of the proton bunch that transforms the bunch to a train with hundreds of bunchlets which drive the wakefields. Therefore the plasma radius must exceed the proton bunch radius. Schlieren imaging is proposed to determine the plasma radius on both ends of the vapor source. We use Schlieren imaging to estimate the radius of a column of excited rubidium atoms. A tunable, narrow bandwidth laser is split into a beam for the excitation of the rubidium vapor and for the visualization using Schlieren imaging. With a laser wavelength very close to the D2 transition line of rubidium ( λ≈780nm ), it is possible to excite a column of rubidium atoms in a small vapor source, to record a Schlieren signal of the excitation column and to estimate its radius. We describe the method and show the results of the measurement. AWAKE develops a new plasma wakefield accelerator using the CERN SPS proton bunch as a driver. The proton bunch propagates through a 10 m long rubidium plasma, induced by an ionizing laser pulse. The co-propagation of the laser pulse with the proton bunch seeds the self modulation instability of the proton bunch that transforms the bunch to a train with hundreds of bunchlets which drive the wakefields. Therefore the plasma radius must exceed the proton bunch radius. Schlieren imaging is proposed to determine the plasma radius on both ends of the vapor source. We use Schlieren imaging to estimate the radius of a column of excited rubidium atoms. A tunable, narrow bandwidth laser is split into a beam for the excitation of the rubidium vapor and for the visualization using Schlieren imaging. With a laser wavelength very close to the D2 transition line of rubidium (780 nm), it is possible to excite a column of rubidium atoms in a small vapor source, to record a Schlieren signal of the excitation column and to estimate its radius. We describe the method and show the results of the measurement.

The AWAKE Collaboration has been formed in order to demonstrate proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration for the first time. This acceleration technique could lead to future colliders of high energy but of a much reduced length when compared to proposed linear accelerators. The CERN SPS proton beam in the CNGS facility will be injected into a 10 m plasma cell where the long proton bunches will be modulated into significantly shorter micro bunches. These micro-bunches will then initiate a strong wakefield in the plasma with peak fields above 1 GV/m that will be harnessed to accelerate a bunch of electrons from about 20 MeV to the GeV scale within a few meters. The experimental program is based on detailed numerical simulations of beam and plasma interactions. The main accelerator components, the experimental area and infrastructure required as well as the plasma cell and the diagnostic equipment are discussed in detail. First protons to the experiment are expected at the end of 2016 and this will be followed by an initial three-four years experimental program. The experiment will inform future larger-scale tests of proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration and applications to high energy colliders. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Christmas tree needle sampling to evaluate nutrient need is an established practice. Data to support the recommended fall sampling time in Oregon and Washington were not found. In addition, the recommendation for needle sampling of Fraser fir in North Carolina was made without data from winter months. The goal for this article is to affirm or modify recommended needle sampling time. Needles of Douglas fir, Turkish fir, Nordmann fir, Noble fir, Grand fir, and Fraser fir Christmas trees were collected monthly for a year, dried, and analyzed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and boron (B). No single period was found for any species when needle nutrient concentration was stable for all elements determined. Needle collection time was chosen by integrating cultural practices, likelihood of nutrient deficiency, and needle nutrient concentration changes for species grown in an area. Needle collection is recommended during February in western Oregon and Washington. The ...

In this paper we discuss the ultrashort pulse high gradient inverse free electron laser accelerator experiment carried out at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which demonstrated gradients exceeding $200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$ using a 4 TW 100 fs long 800 nm $\mathrm{Ti}:\mathrm{Sa}$ laser pulse. Due to the short laser and electron pulse lengths, synchronization was determined to be one of the main challenges in this experiment. This made necessary the implementation of a single-shot, nondestructive, electro-optic sampling based diagnostics to enable time-stamping of each laser accelerator shot with $l100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fs}$ accuracy. The results of this experiment are expected to pave the way towards the development of future GeV-class IFEL accelerators.

Recently the UCLA BNL helical IFEL experiment at the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) showed for the first time capture and high gradient acceleration of monoenergetic electron beams from a helical inverse free electron laser. Using a modest intensity ∼10^13 W/cm^2 laser—several orders of magnitude less than those used in laser wake-field accelerators—and a strongly tapered 0.5 m long helical undulator, we demonstrated energy doubling of a 52 MeV electron beam with >100 MV/m average accelerating gradient and excellent output beam quality. In order to improve the fraction of electrons captured, a prebuncher module is being prepared for testing next month. Simulations show that 70 to 90% of the beam should be accelerated to a final energy of 97 MeV with 2% energy spread. The high efficiency acceleration will enable the first IFEL driven inverse Compton scattering experiment.

World's first proton driven plasma wakefield accelerator experiment will be conducted at CERN by the AWAKE1 collaboration starting in 2016. In this experiment a 12 cm long 400 GeV proton bunch is sent through a 10 m long 2 mm diameter 1-10e14/cc field-ionized plasma. As a result of the self-modulation instability the proton bunch becomes transversely modulated, and near the axis effectively turns into a train of micro-bunches separated by approximately the plasma wavelength (∼ 1 mm). This bunch train can resonantly drive a large scale wakefield (GV/m). For an externally injected electron bunch to stay in the accelerating and focusing phase of this plasma wake the density of the plasma must be uniform to better than ∼0.2%. This uniformity is achieved by field ionizing a rubidium vapor confined in a custom made oil heat exchanger. The imposed temperature uniformity insures the Rb vapor density uniformity. The plasma is formed by a TW peak power Ti:sapphire laser system. The access to the plasma is provided through custom made ultrafast valves. Rubidium sources are also custom made reservoirs attached to the ends. We describe the plasma source2,3 and diagnostic measurements for characterizing it.

We present the results of numerical studies of laser pulse propagating in a 3.5 cm Rb vapor cell in the linear dispersion regime by using a 1D model and a 2D code that has been modified for our special case. The 2D simulation finally aimed at finding laser beam parameters suitable to make the Rb vapor fully ionized to obtain a uniform, 10 m-long, at least 1 mm in radius plasma in the next step for the AWAKE experiment., Comment: Conference proceeding ,NIMA_EAAC 2015, 6 pages, 7 figures

2nd European Advanced Accelerator Concepts Workshop, EAAC2015, La Biodola, Isola d'Elba, Italy, 13 Sep 2015 - 19 Sep 2015 ; Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research / A 829, 3 - 16(2016). doi:10.1016/j.nima.2015.12.050, This paper describes the conceptual steps in reaching the design of the AWAKE experiment currently under construction at CERN. We start with an introduction to plasma wakefield acceleration and the motivation for using proton drivers. We then describe the self-modulation instability – a key to an early realization of the concept. This is then followed by the historical development of the experimental design, where the critical issues that arose and their solutions are described. We conclude with the design of the experiment as it is being realized at CERN and some words on the future outlook. A summary of the AWAKE design and construction status as presented in this conference is given in Gschwendtner et al., Published by North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) has been proposed several years ago as a suitable technique to deposit a pure Mg film over a radio frequency (rf) gun Cu backflange in order to obtain a high efficiency photocathode surface for the generation of high brightness electron beams. In this paper we report preliminary experimental results on the emission properties of a PLD grown Mg film within the high electric field gradients of a rf gun showing the effects of the rf conditioning process on the cathode surface. Even though a laser cleaning process should be performed on the sample surface in order to remove contaminated layers, the results presented here are very promising for the realization of a final Mg-based photocathode.

Using relativistic ultra-short electron beams to obtain single-shot diffraction patterns holds the promise to yield real-time resolution of atomic motion in an easily accessible environment, such as a university laboratory, at a fraction of the cost of fourth-generation X-ray sources. One of the main issues in bringing this technique to full maturity is the development of efficient detector systems to record the diffraction pattern using a few MeV electron beams. Low noise, high spatial resolution, and single-electron detection capability are all characteristics of an ideal detector. In this paper, we compare the performances of a traditional fluorescent phosphor screen with a detection system based on the micro-channel plate (MCP). Since MCPs are typically used with lower energy electron beams, these tests constitute one of the few experimental data points available on the use of these devices with MeV energy beams.

Compact, table-top sized accelerators are key to improving access to high-quality beams for use in industry, medicine and academic research. Among laser-based accelerating schemes, the inverse free-electron laser (IFEL) enjoys unique advantages. By using an undulator magnetic field in combination with a laser, GeV m(-1) gradients may be sustained over metre-scale distances using laser intensities several orders of magnitude less than those used in laser wake-field accelerators. Here we show for the first time the capture and high-gradient acceleration of monoenergetic electron beams from a helical IFEL. Using a modest intensity (~10(13) W cm(-2)) laser pulse and strongly tapered 0.5 m long undulator, we demonstrate100 MV m(-1) accelerating gradient,50 MeV energy gain and excellent output beam quality. Our results pave the way towards compact, tunable GeV IFEL accelerators for applications such as driving soft X-ray free-electron lasers and producing γ-rays by inverse Compton scattering.

In this paper we present preliminary experimental results of the recently proposed idea to generate ideal uniformly filled ellipsoidal beam distributions in an rf photoinjector by cathode illumination with a very short laser pulse (∼35 fs rms) and subsequent expansion under the beam's own space-charge forces. The great interest for uniformly filled ellipsoidal beam shapes derives from the electromagnetic fields associated with such charge distributions, which depend linearly on the bunch coordinates, thus allowing a perfectly linear, emittance-growth free transport. At the UCLA Pegasus laboratory, where the experiment was performed, we used an X-band deflecting cavity as an electron streak camera to visualize directly on a fluorescent screen the longitudinal beam profiles and verify the space-charge-dominated beam expansion. The transverse quality of the bunch was then characterized by a pepper-pot technique, yielding emittance values close to the thermal limits. The measured phase spaces, both transverse (reconstructed from the emittance measurement) and longitudinal (directly measured using the deflecting cavity on a dispersion screen), are also presented.

A scheme where a laser locked THz source is used to manipulate the longitudinal phase space of an ultrashort electron beam using an IFEL interaction is investigated. The efficiency of THz source based on the pulse front tilt optical rectification scheme is increased by cryogenic cooling to achieve sufficient THz power for compression and synchronization. Start-to-end simulations describing the evolution of the beam from the cathode to the compression point after the undulator are presented.

We describe the Inverse Free Electron Accelerator currently under construction at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Upon completion of this accelerator, high brightness electrons generated in the photoinjector blowout regime and accelerated to 50 MeV by S-band accelerating sections will interact with > 4 TW peak power Ti:Sapphire laser in a highly tapered 50 cm undulator and experience an acceleration gradient of > 200 MeV/m. We present the final design of the accelerator as well as the results of start-to-end simulations investigating preservation of beam quality and tolerances involved with this accelerator.

In this Letter we report on the use of ultrashort infrared laser pulses to generate a copious amount of electrons by a copper cathode in an rf photoinjector. The charge yield verifies the generalized Fowler-Dubridge theory for multiphoton photoemission. The emission is verified to be prompt using a two pulse autocorrelation technique. The thermal emittance associated with the excess kinetic energy from the emission process is comparable with the one measured using frequency tripled uv laser pulses. In the high field of the rf gun, up to 50 pC of charge can be extracted from the cathode using a 80 fs long, $2\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{J}$, 800 nm pulse focused to a $140\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ rms spot size. Taking into account the efficiency of harmonic conversion, illuminating a cathode directly with ir laser pulses can be the most efficient way to employ the available laser power.

In this paper we study a new geometry setup for electro-optic sampling (EOS) where the electron beam runs parallel to the $⟨110⟩$ face of a ZnTe crystal and the probe laser is perpendicular to it and to the beam path. The simple setup is used to encode the time-of-arrival information of a $3.5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}l10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{pC}$ electron bunch on the spatial profile of the laser pulse. The electric field lines inside the dielectric bend at an angle due to a relatively large ($n\ensuremath{\sim}3$) index of refraction of the ZnTe crystal. We found theoretically and experimentally that the EOS signal can be maximized with a proper choice of incoming laser polarization angle. We achieved single-shot nondestructive measurement of the relative time of arrival between the pump and the probe beams thus improving the temporal resolution of ultrafast relativistic electron diffraction experiments.

The concept of a THz‐based IFEL compressor at the UCLA Pegasus photoinjector laboratory is explored. A 3.5 MeV sub‐picosecond electron beam generated in the photoinjector blowout regime can be compressed to femtosecond timescales by a THz IFEL interaction.

Using an experimental scheme based on a vertically deflecting rf deflector and a horizontally dispersing dipole, we characterize the longitudinal phase space of the beam in the blow-out regime at the UCLA Pegasus rf photoinjector. Because of the achievement of unprecedented resolution both in time (50 fs) and energy (1.0 keV), we are able to demonstrate some important properties of the beams created in this regime such as extremely low longitudinal emittance, large temporal energy chirp, and the degrading effects of the cathode image charge in the longitudinal phase space which eventually leads to poorer beam quality. All of these results have been found in good agreement with simulations.

We theoretically and experimentally investigate the possibility of using a rf streak camera to time resolve in a single shot structural changes at the sub-100 fs time scale via relativistic electron diffraction. We experimentally tested this novel concept at the UCLA Pegasus rf photoinjector. Time-resolved diffraction patterns from thin Al foil are recorded. Averaging over 50 shots is required in order to get statistics sufficient to uncover a variation in time of the diffraction patterns. In the absence of an external pump laser, this is explained as due to the energy chirp on the beam out of the electron gun. With further improvements to the electron source, rf streak camera based ultrafast electron diffraction has the potential to yield truly single shot measurements of ultrafast processes.

The PEGASUS laboratory at the UCLA Physics Department has been recently commissioned as a new advanced photoinjector facility for ultrafast beam research. With a newly installed state-of-the-art Ti:Sa laser driver capable of delivering sub 100 fs UV pulses onto the cathode, the laboratory capabilities have been greatly expanded. The beam charge is low (10 pC) to avoid excessive pulse lengthening. Nevertheless various applications could greatly benefit by this novel regime of operation of an rf photoinjector. We discuss the measurements performed to characterize the system with particular attention to the ones that are peculiar of a low charge sub-ps beam.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2010 in Portland, Oregon, USA, August 1 – August 5, 2010.

In this paper we report on the experimental demonstration of using relativistic electron diffraction and an radiofrequency deflecting cavity to capture in a single shot the entire time-history of the ultrafast laser-induced heating and melting of a single crystal gold sample. By recording the time variation in the Bragg peaks on the streak image of a 16 ps long electron beam it is possible to reconstruct with 400 fs temporal resolution the evolution of the sample structure induced by a 35 mJ/cm2 400 nm laser pump pulse.

We report the experimental demonstration of time-resolved relativistic electron diffraction. Single shot diffraction patterns from a single crystal gold sample were recorded using ultrashort 3.5 MeV electron bunches from a radio frequency photoinjector. By scanning the pump pulse time-delay, we studied the Bragg peaks amplitude change due to the laser-induced melting of the sample. The observed time scale matches the one predicted using a simple two temperature model of the heating of the thin foil. Time-resolved relativistic electron diffraction using megaelectronvolt electron beams with 107 particles in 100 fs bunch length opens exciting possibilities in ultrafast structural dynamics.

Single shot diffraction patterns using a 250-fs-long electron beam have been obtained at the UCLA Pegasus laboratory. High quality images with spatial resolution sufficient to distinguish closely spaced peaks in the Debye-Scherrer ring pattern have been recorded by scattering the 1.6 pC 3.5 MeV electron beam generated in the rf photoinjector off a 100-nm-thick Au foil. Dark current and high emittance particles are removed from the beam before sending it onto the diffraction target using a 1 mm diameter collimating hole. These results open the door to the study of irreversible phase transformations by single shot MeV electron diffraction.

In August 1996, several 4- to 6-m-tall Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. in Adams County, PA, were found bearing numerous dead branches and/or dead tops. The trees had been severely stressed by being ball-and-burlapped and replanted in 1993. Distinct cankers occurred between the living and dead portions of stems and branches. Associated with these cankers were abundant, reddish-orange, erumpent stroma, each bearing three to 10 similarly colored cupulate ascomata. The latter contained asci bearing two to four large, muriform ascospores that, as they matured, formed large numbers of small ascoconidia, indicating the pathogen was Thyronectria balsamea (Cooke & Peck) Seeler (= Nectria balsamea Cooke & Peck). In September 1996, cankered dead stems and branches from affected A. frasrei Christmas tree plantations in Avery County, NC, were found bearing the same pathogen. This fungus is known on A. bal-samea (L.) Mill. from northern Minnesota east through Canada to northern New York and Newfoundland (2). Funk (1) reported it from A. lasio-carpa (Hook.) Nutt. in (presumably) British Columbia, but gave no details. This is the first report of it in the eastern United States south of northern New York, a considerable extension of its known range, and the first report of it from A. fraseri. Voucher specimens are in PACMA (Pennsylvania State University Mycologica Herbarium, Mont Alto Campus). References: (1) A. Funk. Can. For. Serv. BC-X-222:142, 1981. (2) E. V. Seeler, Jr. J. Arnold Arbor. 21:442, 1940.

Metallic film photo-cathodes are rugged, have a fast response and good emission uniformity. Mg has also a relevant Quantum Efficiency (QE) in the near UV. A cathode suitable for a 1.5 cells S-band RF gun has been produced by depositing an Mg film on Cu by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique. After different optimizations, stable good results have been reached in the low field measurement scenario. A sample was deposited on a gun flange and tested in the 1.6 cell injector at UCLA Pegasus facility to prove cathode resistance in a high field environment. The results are described.