Optimization of the Accelerating Structure of a Linear Electron Accelerator for an Energy of 8–50 MeV with Injection from an Electron Source Based on Cluster Plasma Systems.

One of the key problems of modern accelerator physics is an increase in the acceleration rate in linear electron accelerators. The physical limit of the strength of the accelerating field for ordinary and superconducting accelerating structures has practically been reached, therefore various new acceleration schemes are considered, primarily plasma acceleration and wake acceleration. It is proposed to consider the possibility of using a bunch generated in a laser-plasma channel for injection into a traditional structure based on microwave resonators. An electron source based on a cluster plasma can generate a short (from 0.1 to 1.0 ps) electron bunch with an energy of several hundred kiloelectronvolts, which makes it possible to consider such a source as an alternative to a photocathode. Next, the beam must be captured in the acceleration mode in a normally conducting section operating on a standing wave and accelerated to an energy of 50 MeV with the possibility of adjusting the energy. This article considers the features of such an accelerator, including the possible energy spectrum, the features of capturing an electron bunch with an extremely wide spectrum in the acceleration mode, as well as the electrodynamic characteristics of the accelerating structures. The simulation of the beam dynamics was carried out using the BEAMDULAC package developed at the Department of Electrophysical Installations of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. The main results of the development of electrodynamic models of the accelerating structures of this accelerator are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]