From plasma-wakefield acceleration as a physics experiment toward a plasma-based accelerator as a user facility, the beam physics issues remaining to be solved are still numerous. Providing beams with high energy, charge, and quality simultaneously, not only within the plasma but also at the user doorstep itself, is the main concern. Despite its tremendous efficiency in particle acceleration, the wakefield displays a complex 3D profile which, associated to the beam-loading field induced by the accelerated beam itself, makes the acceleration of high charge to high energy often incompatible with high beam quality. Beam extraction from the plasma without quality degradation for a transfer either to the next plasma stage or to the user application is another difficulty to consider. This article presents the substantial studies carried out and the different innovative methods employed for tackling all these different issues. Efforts focused on achieving the challenging beam parameters targeted by the EuPRAXIA accelerator facility project. The lessons learned at the end of these in-depth simulations and optimizations are highlighted. The sensitivity to different error sources is also estimated to point out the critical components of such an accelerator. Finally, the needs in terms of laser and plasma parameters are provided.

The extra low energy antiproton ring (ELENA) finished commissioning before the start of CERN’s second long shutdown in December 2018, successfully providing beams to a new experimental zone. In 2021, ELENA will begin distributing cooled 100 keV antiproton beams to all antimatter experiments. To counteract beam blowup due to deceleration, ELENA will employ the use of an electron cooler. Measurements under similar circumstances, such as at the antiproton decelerator at CERN, have shown electron cooling causing non-Gaussian beam profiles. This effect, combined with nonzero dispersion at the location of the scraper in ELENA, presents new challenges in the use of ELENA’s scraper to determine the emittance during the deceleration cycle. Two new scraper algorithms have been developed and used to show the first evidence of significant electron cooling in ELENA, at 650 and 100 keV energy plateaus. The algorithms are capable of estimating the longitudinal momentum spread of the beams and accurately determining emittances for non-Gaussian beams in dispersive regions. Additionally, utilizing combinations of measurements from opposing scraper blades, additional information on the beam’s evolution is presented, suggesting a correlation between the emittance and longitudinal momentum offset of individual particles. Finally, considerations for further studies in ELENA and similar machines are presented.

A new method of controllable injection to generate high quality electron bunches in the nonlinear blowout regime driven by electron beams is proposed and demonstrated using particle-in-cell simulations. Injection is facilitated by decreasing the wake phase velocity through varying the spot size of the drive beam and can be tuned through the Courant-Snyder (CS) parameters. Two regimes are examined. In the first, the spot size is focused according to the vacuum CS beta function, while in the second, it is focused by the plasma ion column. The effects of the driver intensity and vacuum CS parameters on the wake velocity and injected beam parameters are examined via theory and simulations. For plasma densities of $\sim 10^{19}{\mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$, particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that peak normalized brightnesses $\gtrsim 10^{20}\mathrm{A}/{\mathrm{m}}^2/{\mathrm{rad}}^2$ can be obtained with projected energy spreads of $\lesssim 1\%$ within the middle section of the injected beam, and with normalized slice emittances as low as $\sim 10\mathrm{nm}$.

Magnetic flux trapped during the cooldown of superconducting radio-frequency cavities through the transition temperature due to incomplete Meissner state is known to be a significant source of radio-frequency losses. The sensitivity of flux trapping depends on the distribution and the type of defects and impurities which pin vortices, as well as the cooldown dynamics when the cavity transitions from a normal to superconducting state. Here we present the results of measurements of the flux trapping sensitivity on 1.3 GHz elliptical cavities made from large-grain niobium with different purity for different cooldown dynamics and surface treatments. The results show that lower purity material results in a higher fraction of trapped flux and that the trapped flux sensitivity parameter $S$ is significantly affected by surface treatments but without much change in the mean free path $l$. We discuss our results within an overview of published data on the dependencies of $S(l,f)$ on $l$ and frequency $f$ using theoretical models of rf losses of elastic vortex lines driven by weak rf currents in the cases of sparse strong pinning defects and collective pinning by many weak defects. Our analysis shows how multiscale pinning mechanisms in cavities can result in a maximum in $S(l)$ similar to that observed by the FNAL and Cornell groups and how pinning characteristics can be extracted from the experimental data. Here the main contribution to $S$ come from weak pinning regions at the cavity surface, where dissipative oscillations along trapped vortices perpendicular to the surface propagate into the bulk well beyond the layer of rf screening current. However, the analysis of $S$ as a function of only the mean free path is incomplete since cavity treatments change not only $l$ but pinning characteristics as well. The effect of cavity treatments on pinning is primarily responsible for the change of $S$ without much effect on $l$ observed in this work. It also manifests itself in different magnitudes and peak positions in $S(l)$, and scatter of the $S$-data coming from the measurements on different cavities which have undergone different treatments affecting both $l$ and pinning. Optimizations of flux pinning to reduce flux sensitivity at low rf fields is discussed.

Precision experiments, such as the search for a deuteron electric dipole moment using storage rings like COSY, demand for an understanding of the spin dynamics with unprecedented accuracy. In such an enterprise, numerical predictions play a crucial role for the development and later application of spin-tracking algorithms. Various measurement concepts involving polarization effects induced by an rf Wien filter and static solenoids in COSY are discussed. The matrix formalism, applied here, deals solely with spin rotations on the closed orbit of the machine, and is intended to provide numerical guidance for the development of beam and spin-tracking codes for rings that employ realistic descriptions of the electric and magnetic bending and focusing elements, solenoids, etc., and a realistically modeled rf Wien filter.

In the article of K. Kojima, H. Okamoto, and Y. Tokashiki [Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 22, 074201 (2019)] the authors claim that the optimum working point on the tune diagram of circular accelerators at high intensity should be determined by using a framework of coherent resonances instead of the commonly accepted and widely used “standard” diagrams based on incoherent resonance conditions. However, their proposal is based on a questionable interpretation of Vlasov’s equation as well as an over-interpretation of their multi-particle simulations in the case of Gaussian-like distributions. Furthermore, the suggested coherent diagram is not supported by detailed published data from operating synchrotrons at GSI and CERN, which are in line with the incoherent resonance picture. As far as waterbag (or similar truncated) distributions, the authors model of coherent resonance diagrams is not questioned in this Comment.

In the Comment on our paper [Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 22, 074201 (2019)], Hofmann claims that our conclusions are based on a questionable interpretation of Vlasov’s equation and an over-interpretation of our multiparticle simulations. This assertion, however, comes largely from his misinterpretations of the essence of our work and proposed resonance condition. His criticism based on experimental data from some operating machines has also missed the point; we see no essential conflict between our arguments and experimental observations. While most of the questions raised by Hofmann have already been answered in our original paper above and previous publications, we take this opportunity to provide more information and explanation for clarity.

This paper presents the experimental results on the Terapia Oncologica con Protoni-Intensity Modulated Proton Linear Accelerator (TOP-IMPLART) beam that is currently accelerated up to 35 MeV, with a final target of 150 MeV. The TOP-IMPLART project, funded by the Innovation Department of Regione Lazio (Italy), is led by Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Health and the Oncological Hospital Regina Elena-IFO. The accelerator, under construction and test at ENEA-Frascati laboratories, employs a commercial 425 MHz, 7 MeV injector followed by a sequence of 3 GHz accelerating modules consisting of side coupled drift tube linac (SCDTL) structures up to 71 MeV and coupled cavity linac structures for higher energies. The section from 7 to 35 MeV, consisting on four SCDTL modules, is powered by a single 10 MW klystron and has been successfully commissioned. This result demonstrates the feasibility of a “fully linear” proton therapy accelerator operating at a high frequency and paves the way to a new class of machines in the field of cancer treatment.

We propose a new scheme to control the polarization state of undulator radiation, in which the helicity of circularly polarized radiation can be switched by translating the whole undulator along the horizontal direction. This is in contrast to the conventional method based on a phasing operation (longitudinal motion of magnetic arrays), which gives rise to a large variation of the three-dimensional magnetic force acting on the magnetic array. Because the mechanical design can be much simpler than conventional undulators equipped with a function for the phasing operation, the proposed scheme is well compatible with in-vacuum undulators. Numerical and experimental studies were carried out to reveal the performance and feasibility of the proposed scheme, showing its potential as an attractive option for the in-vacuum undulators.

The electric field in laser-driven plasma wakefield acceleration is orders of magnitude higher than conventional radio-frequency cavities, but the energy gain is limited by dephasing between the ultrarelativistic electron bunch and the wakefield, which travels at the laser group velocity. We present a way to overcome this limit within a single plasma stage. The amplitude of the wakefield behind a train of laser pulses can be controlled in-flight by modulating the density profile. This creates a succession of resonant laser-plasma accelerator sections and nonresonant drift sections, within which the wakefield disappears and the electrons rephase. A two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation with four 2.5 TW laser pulses produces a 50 MeV electron energy gain, four times that obtained from a uniform plasma. Although laser redshift prevents operation in the blowout regime, the technique offers increased energy gain for accelerators limited to the linear regime by the available laser power. This is particularly relevant for laser-plasma x-ray sources capable of operating at high repetition rates, which are highly sought after.

Radiation-based techniques for measuring electron source sizes are widely used as emittance diagnostics at existing synchrotron sources. Three of these techniques, namely, pinhole imaging, double-slit interferometry, and a K-edge filter-based beam position and size monitor system (ps-BPM), are evaluated for measuring source sizes at low-emittance storage rings. Each technique is reviewed with a detailed system description, design optimization, and practical considerations targeted for small source sizes. Pinhole imaging has the simplest setup and gives the beam profile in both transverse dimensions but with limited resolution. Double-slit interferometry has the highest resolution but with a limited detectable size range. The ps-BPM system shows reasonable resolution for monitoring small source sizes and divergence and can give real-time information of the source position and angle. New facilities may consider an integrated system that combines some or all of these techniques.

We present a study of laser-ion acceleration, where an increased laser spot size leads to sheath field geometries that accelerate ion beams of narrow and achromatic divergence at unprecedented charge densities, resulting from the high aspect ratio of the laser spot size to the acceleration distance. Matching the laser pulse length to the transverse laser spot size mitigated laser sweeping across the target front side and optimized the acceleration, with maximum energies deviating significantly from a linear intensity scaling.

The transverse emittance growth rate of colliding hadron beams driven by external sources of noise is investigated based on existing analytical model as well as on macro-particle simulations and comparison to experimental data at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It is shown that an analytical description of the emittance growth rate neglecting the existence coherent beam-beam mode can nevertheless provide accurate estimate for operational conditions, featuring notably a high chromaticity. The model is used to investigate the level of noise experienced by the LHC beams. The results indicate that a significant reduction of the noise floor of the transverse feedback’s beam position monitor is required for operation with a large beam-beam tune shift, as the one anticipated for the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC).

A new scheme is proposed to generate electron beams with a frequency-chirped density modulation for producing ultrashort THz radiation pulse in an optimally tapered undulator. In this scheme, an energy chirped electron beam is sequentially modulated in two modulators by interacting with two laser pulses with the same central frequency but different chirp rates, practically one laser pulse is linearly chirped and the other is chirpfree. Two dispersion sections are applied to transfer the energy modulation formed in the modulators to the desired density modulation. The central frequency of the density modulation of the electron beam can be continuously tuned by changing the compression coefficients of the dispersion sections, and the chirp rate of the final modulation frequency can also be tuned by either varying the compression coefficients or the linear chirp rates of the modulation laser pulses. The generation of ultrashort and broadband THz radiation pulses is also briefly discussed.

Measuring the quantum efficiency (QE) map of a photocathode injector typically requires laser scanning, an invasive operation that involves modifying the injector laser focus and rastering the focused laser spot across the photocathode surface. Raster scanning interrupts normal operation and takes considerable time to setup. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel method of measuring the QE map using a ghost imaging framework that correlates the injector laser spatial variation over time with the total charge yield. Ghost imaging enables passive, real-time monitoring of the QE map without manually modifying the injector laser or interrupting injector operation. We first demonstrate the method at the UCLA Pegasus photoinjector with the help of a digital micromirror device (DMD) and a piezoelectric mirror to increase our control of the overall transverse variance of the illumination profile. The reconstruction algorithm parameters are fine-tuned using simulations and the results are validated against the ground truth map acquired using the traditional rastering method. Finally, we apply the technique to data acquired parasitically from the LCLS photoinjector, showing the feasibility of this method to retrieve a QE map without interrupting normal operation.

A destructive monitor to measure the longitudinal bunch width of a low-energy and low-intensity muon beam was developed. This bunch-width monitor (BWM) employed microchannel plates to detect a single muon with high time resolution. In addition, constant-fraction discriminators were adopted to suppress the time-walk effect. The time resolution was measured to be 65 ps in rms using a picosecond-pulsed laser. This resolution satisfied the requirements of the muon linac of the J-PARC E34 experiment. We measured the bunch width of negative-muonium ions (${\mu }^{+}{e}^{-}{e}^{-}$) accelerated with a radio-frequency quadrupole using the BWM. The bunch width was successfully measured to be $\sigma =0.54\pm 0.11\mathrm{ns}$, which is consistent with the simulation.

Microbunching instability is a well-known phenomenon that may deteriorate the performance of accelerators. The instability may be triggered by a shot-noise mechanism or by some initial intensity modulations at the generation of the electron bunch (or both) and can be amplified all along the machine. At SwissFEL, the free-electron laser (FEL) facility operating at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), the initial design stipulated a shaping of the photocathode laser output to obtain a flat-top longitudinal profile. This scheme is attractive in terms of the uniformity of the beam properties along the bunch. The drawback of this approach is that some unavoidable modulations are generated along the laser pulse. We investigate, both experimentally and by numerical simulations, the longitudinal dynamics of a beam obtained illuminating a copper cathode with a laser profile shaped by the stacking technique. We repeat the analysis for several compression factors and initial laser profile modulations. We find that the microbunching instability gain renders the use of the stacking technique not efficient to run a free-electron laser facility using as photocathode a material with a short response time. We experimentally demonstrate that the use of a material with a longer response time efficiently damps the structures originating from the laser profile obtained with stacking, and helps to improve the performance of the facility. In general, this is an approach to minimize the microbunching instability at any FEL (also not using stacking) or at least reduce the use of other countermeasures, which, such as the laser heater, may degrade the final FEL performance.