Intensification of electrons escaping from an intense laser-produced plasma is demonstrated by using double femtosecond laser pulses. The electron density distribution at the rear surface of a laser-irradiated foil target is controlled by preirradiation to suppress sheath field growth and to expand the plasma into which the fast electrons are released. Consequently, the number of electrons escaping from the plasma that have an energy of 380 keV increases by a factor of 7. The experimental results are well explained by numerical simulations of a foil plasma with a preformed plasma and analytical evaluations considering the plasma expansion.

The parallel operation of multiple beam lines is an important means to expand the opportunity of user experiments at x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facilities. At SPring-8 Angstrom free-electron laser (SACLA), the multi-beam-line operation had been tested using two beam lines, but transverse coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) effects at a dogleg beam transport severely limited the laser performance. To suppress the CSR effects, a new beam optics based on two double bend achromat (DBA) structures was introduced for the dogleg. After the replacement of the beam optics, high peak current bunches of more than 10 kA are now stably transported through the dogleg and the laser pulse output is increased by a factor of 2–3. In the multi-beam-line operation of SACLA, the electron beam parameters, such as the beam energy and peak current, can be adjusted independently for each beam line. Thus the laser output can be optimized and wide spectral tunability is ensured for all beam lines.

In the past, calculation of wakefields generated by an electron bunch propagating in a plasma has been carried out in linear approximation, where the plasma perturbation can be assumed small and plasma equations of motion linearized. This approximation breaks down in the blowout regime where a high-density electron driver expels plasma electrons from its path and creates a cavity void of electrons in its wake. In this paper, we develop a technique that allows us to calculate short-range longitudinal and transverse wakes generated by a witness bunch being accelerated inside the cavity. Our results can be used for studies of the beam loading and the hosing instability of the witness bunch in plasma-wakefield and laser-wakefield acceleration.

Superconducting TESLA-type cavities are widely used to accelerate electrons in long bunch trains, such as in high repetition rate free electron lasers. The TESLA cavity is equipped with two higher order mode couplers and a fundamental power coupler (FPC), which break the axial symmetry of the cavity. The passing electrons therefore experience axially asymmetrical coupler kicks, which depend on the transverse beam position at the couplers and the rf phase. The resulting emittance dilution has been studied in detail in the literature. However, the kick induced by the FPC depends explicitly on the ratio of the forward to the backward traveling waves at the coupler, which has received little attention. The intention of this paper is to present the concept of discrete coupler kicks with a novel approach of separating the field disturbances related to the standing wave and a reflection dependent part. Particular attention is directed to the role of the penetration depth of the FPC antenna, which determines the loaded quality factor of the cavity. The developed beam transport model is compared to dedicated experiments at FLASH and European XFEL. Both the observed transverse coupling and detuning related coupler kick variations are in good agreement with the model. Finally, the expected trajectory variations due to coupler kick variations at European XFEL are investigated and results of numerical studies are presented.

This paper reports the results from single-pulse experiments of a $440\mathrm{GeV}/c$ 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 $\sim 45\mu \mathrm{m}$ 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 $45\mu \mathrm{m}$ grain results and with a previous experiment carried out with sub-$250\mu \mathrm{m}$ 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.

We have developed a physics-based transmission-line-circuit model of the Z pulsed-power accelerator. The 33-m-diameter Z machine generates a peak electrical power as high as 85 TW, and delivers as much as 25 MA to a physics load. The circuit model is used to design and analyze experiments conducted on Z. The model consists of 36 networks of transmission-line-circuit elements and resistors that represent each of Zs 36 modules. The model of each module includes a Marx generator, intermediate-energy-storage capacitor, laser-triggered gas switch, pulse-forming line, self-break water switches, and tri-plate transmission lines. The circuit model also includes elements that represent Zs water convolute, vacuum insulator stack, four parallel outer magnetically insulated vacuum transmission lines (MITLs), double-post-hole vacuum convolute, inner vacuum MITL, and physics load. Within the vacuum-transmission-line system the model conducts analytic calculations of current loss. To calculate the loss, the model simulates the following processes: (i) electron emission from MITL cathode surfaces wherever an electric-field threshold has been exceeded; (ii) electron loss in the MITLs before magnetic insulation has been established; (iii) flow of electrons emitted by the outer-MITL cathodes after insulation has been established; (iv) closure of MITL anode-cathode (AK) gaps due to expansion of cathode plasma; (v) energy loss to MITL conductors operated at high lineal current densities; (vi) heating of MITL-anode surfaces due to conduction current and deposition of electron kinetic energy; (vii) negative-space-charge-enhanced ion emission from MITL anode surfaces wherever an anode-surface-temperature threshold has been exceeded; and (viii) closure of MITL AK gaps due to expansion of anode plasma. The circuit model is expected to be most accurate when the fractional current loss is small. We have performed circuit simulations of 52 Z experiments conducted with a variety of accelerator configurations and load-impedance time histories. For these experiments, the apparent fractional current loss varies from 0% to 20%. Results of the circuit simulations agree with data acquired on 52 shots to within 2%.

Microwave instability in the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN is one of the main limitations to reach the requirements for the High Luminosity-LHC project (increased beam intensity by a factor 2). To identify the impedance source responsible of the instability, beam measurements were carried out to probe the SPS impedance. The method presented in this paper relies on measurements of the unstable spectra of single bunches, injected in the SPS with the rf voltage switched off. The modulation of the bunch profile gives information about the main impedance sources driving microwave instability, and is compared to particle simulations using the SPS impedance model to identify the most important contributions. This allowed us to identify the vacuum flanges as the main impedance source for microwave instability in the SPS, and to evaluate possible missing impedance sources.

The space-charge driven envelope instability can be of great danger in high intensity accelerators and was studied using a two-dimensional (2D) envelope model and three-dimensional (3D) macroparticle simulations before. In this paper, we study the instability for a bunched beam using a three-dimensional envelope model in a periodic solenoid and radio-frequency (rf) focusing channel and a periodic quadrupole and rf focusing channel. This study shows that when the transverse zero current phase advance is below $90°$, the beam envelope can still become unstable if the longitudinal zero current phase advance is beyond $90°$. For the transverse zero current phase advance beyond $90°$, the instability stopband width becomes larger with the increase of the longitudinal focusing strength and even shows different structure from the 2D case when the longitudinal zero current phase advance is beyond $90°$. Breaking the symmetry of two longitudinal focusing rf cavities and the symmetry between the horizontal focusing and the vertical focusing in the transverse plane in the periodic quadrupole and rf channel makes the instability stopband broader. This suggests that a more symmetric accelerator lattice design might help reduce the range of the envelope instability in parameter space.

Trapezoidal modulation of quadrupole electrodes offers additional benefits to the concept of a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ). Because of the significant increase of the effective shunt impedance, RFQs with trapezoidal modulation have a reduced interelectrode voltage or resonator length as compared to conventional RFQs with sinusoidal modulation. This feature is especially valuable for RFQs operating in cw mode, since it reduces the required rf power. We develop a detailed procedure for the design of RFQ electrodes with trapezoidal modulation. With our design procedure and by properly choosing the trapezoidal cell parameters, we can easily control the peak surface fields in the RFQ to the same level as for sinusoidal cell modulation. The procedure is applied to the design of the electrodes for the ReA3 RFQ at Michigan State University.

The performance of superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities used for particle accelerators depends on two characteristic material parameters: field of first flux entry $H_{\text{entry}}$ and pinning strength. The former sets the limit for the maximum achievable accelerating gradient, while the latter determines how efficiently flux can be expelled related to the maximum achievable quality factor. In this paper, a method based on muon spin rotation ($\mu \mathrm{SR}$) is developed to probe these parameters on samples. It combines measurements from two different spectrometers, one being specifically built for these studies and samples of different geometries. It is found that annealing at $1400°\mathrm{C}$ virtually eliminates all pinning. Such an annealed substrate is ideally suited to measure $H_{\text{entry}}$ of layered superconductors, which might enable accelerating gradients beyond bulk niobium technology.

A Low-level radio-frequency (LLRF) control systems is required to regulate the rf field in the rf cavity used for beam acceleration. As the LLRF system is usually complex, testing of the basic functions or control algorithms of this system in real time and in advance of beam commissioning is strongly recommended. However, the equipment necessary to test the LLRF system, such as superconducting cavities and high-power rf sources, is very expensive; therefore, we have developed a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based cavity simulator as a substitute for real rf cavities. Digital models of the cavity and other rf systems are implemented in the FPGA. The main components include cavity baseband models for the fundamental and parasitic modes, a mechanical model of the Lorentz force detuning, and a model of the beam current. Furthermore, in our simulator, the disturbance model used to simulate the power-supply ripples and microphonics is also carefully considered. Based on the presented cavity simulator, we have established an LLRF system test bench that can be applied to different cavity operational conditions. The simulator performance has been verified by comparison with real cavities in KEK accelerators. In this paper, the development and implementation of this cavity simulator is presented first, and the LLRF test bench based on the presented simulator is constructed. The results are then compared with those for KEK accelerators. Finally, several LLRF applications of the cavity simulator are illustrated.

This paper discusses novel coherent beam-beam instability in collisions with a large crossing angle. The instability appears in the correlated head-tail motion of two colliding beams. A cross-wake force, which is localized at the collision point, is introduced to represent the head-tail correlation between colliding beams. A mode-coupling theory based on this localized cross-wake force enables us to explain the correlated heal-tail instability. The use of a collision scheme with a large crossing angle is becoming popular in the design of electron–positron colliders. An example thereof is the SuperKEKB project, in which a collision with a large crossing angle is performed to boost the luminosity to $0.8\times {10}^{36}{\mathrm{cm}}^{-2}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$. Future circular colliders will also be designed with a large crossing angle. Strong-strong simulations, which have shown the first coherent head-tail instability, can limit the performance of proposed future colliders. The mechanism whereby this instability occurs is mode coupling due to the cross-wake force. This instability may affect all collider designs based on the crab waist scheme.

We consider the electromagnetic field of a point charged particle moving along the axis of a cylindrical waveguide from a homogeneously filled area to a dielectric loading area having an axially symmetrical channel. We are interested in studying the Cherenkov radiation excited in the bilayer area. The solution is performed by expanding the field in each area in a series of orthogonal eigenmodes. The main attention is focused on investigation of the wave field in the bilayer section. We show that, at a given observation point, the “reduced wakefield” is simplified with time (the number of modes decreases). The obtained results are generalized for the case of a bunch with Gaussian longitudinal profile. The typical numerical results for wakefield formation process are presented. These results agree with simulations done by the industry standard electromagnetic code CST Particle Studio.

The need to extract the maximum beam intensity with low transversal emittance often comes with the drawback of operating the ion source to limits where beam current instabilities arise, such fluctuations can change the beam properties producing a mismatch in the following sections of the machine. The space charge compensation (SCC) generated by the beam particles colliding with the residual gas reaches a steady state after a build-up time. This paper shows how once in the steady state, the beam ends with a transversal emittance value bigger than the case without compensation. In addition, we study how the beam intensity variation can disturb the SCC dynamics and its impact on the beam properties. The results presented in this work come from 3-D simulations using tracking codes taking into account the secondary ions to estimate the degree of the emittance growth due to space charge and SCC.

We report the rf performance of a single cell superconducting radiofrequency cavity after low temperature baking in a nitrogen environment. A significant increase in quality factor has been observed when the cavity was heat treated in the temperature range of $120–160°\mathrm{C}$ with a nitrogen partial pressure of $\sim 25\mathrm{m}\mathrm{Torr}$. This increase in quality factor as well as the $Q$-rise phenomenon (anti-$Q$-slope) is similar to those previously obtained with high temperature nitrogen doping as well as titanium doping. In this study, a cavity ${\mathrm{N}}_2$-treated at $120°\mathrm{C}$ and at $140°\mathrm{C}$ showed no degradation in accelerating gradient, however the accelerating gradient was reduced by $\sim 25\%$ with a $160°\mathrm{C}$ ${\mathrm{N}}_2$ treatment, compared to the baseline tests after electropolishing. Sample coupons treated in the same conditions as the cavity were analyzed by scanning electron microscope, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy revealed a complex surface composition of ${\mathrm{Nb}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_5$, NbO and ${\mathrm{NbN}}_{(1-x)}{\mathrm{O}}_x$ within the rf penetration depth. Furthermore, magnetization measurements showed no significant change on bulk superconducting properties.

Rising interest in inverse Compton sources has increased the need for efficient models that properly quantify the behavior of scattered radiation given a set of interaction parameters. The current state-of-the-art simulations rely on Monte Carlo–based methods, which, while properly expressing scattering behavior in high-probability regions of the produced spectra, may not correctly simulate such behavior in low-probability regions (e.g. tails of spectra). Moreover, sampling may take an inordinate amount of time for the desired accuracy to be achieved. In this paper, we present an analytic derivation of the expression describing the scattered radiation linewidth and propose a model to describe the effects of horizontal and vertical emittance on the properties of the scattered radiation. We also present an improved version of the code initially reported in Krafft et al. [Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 19, 121302 (2016)], that can perform the same simulations as those present in cain and give accurate results in low-probability regions by integrating over the emissions of the electrons. Finally, we use these codes to carry out simulations that closely verify the behavior predicted by the analytically derived scaling law.

The CERN Large Hadron Collider is currently being upgraded to operate at a stored beam energy of 680 MJ through the High Luminosity upgrade. The LHC performance is dependent on the functionality of beam collimation systems, essential for safe beam cleaning and machine protection. A dedicated beam experiment at the CERN High Radiation to Materials facility is created under the HRMT-23 experimental campaign. This experiment investigates the behavior of three collimation jaws having novel composite absorbers made of copper diamond, molybdenum carbide graphite, and carbon fiber carbon, experiencing accidental scenarios involving the direct beam impact on the material. Material characterization is imperative for the design, execution, and analysis of such experiments. This paper presents new data and analysis of the thermostructural characteristics of some of the absorber materials commissioned within CERN facilities. In turn, characterized elastic properties are optimized through the development and implementation of a mixed numerical-experimental optimization technique.

The beam breakup instability of the drive bunch in the structure-based collinear wakefield accelerator is considered and a stabilizing method is proposed. The method includes using the specially designed beam focusing channel, applying the energy chirp along the electron bunch, and keeping energy chirp constant during the drive bunch deceleration. A stability condition is derived that defines the limit on the accelerating field for the witness bunch.