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C. A. Lindstrøm

Publications and source records attributed to C. A. Lindstrøm.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Longitudinally resolved measurement of energy-transfer efficiency in a plasma-wakefield accelerator

Energy-transfer efficiency is an important quantity in plasma-wakefield acceleration, especially for applications that demand high average power. Conventionally, the efficiency is measured using an electron spectrometer; an invasive method that provides an energy-transfer efficiency averaged over the full length of the plasma accelerator. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a novel diagnostic utilizing the excess light emitted by the plasma after a beam-plasma interaction, which yields noninvasive, longitudinally resolved measurements of the local energy-transfer efficiency from the wake to the accelerated bunch; here, as high as (58 $\pm$ 3)%. This method is suitable for online optimization of individual stages in a future multistage plasma accelerator, and enables experimental studies of the relation between efficiency and transverse instability in the acceleration process.

physics.acc-ph↗

Recovery time of a plasma-wakefield accelerator

The interaction of intense particle bunches with plasma can give rise to plasma wakes capable of sustaining gigavolt-per-metre electric fields, which are orders of magnitude higher than provided by state-of-the-art radio-frequency technology. Plasma wakefields can, therefore, strongly accelerate charged particles and offer the opportunity to reach higher particle energies with smaller and hence more widely available accelerator facilities. However, the luminosity and brilliance demands of high-energy physics and photon science require particle bunches to be accelerated at repetition rates of thousands or even millions per second, which are orders of magnitude higher than demonstrated with plasma-wakefield technology. Here we investigate the upper limit on repetition rates of beam-driven plasma accelerators by measuring the time it takes for the plasma to recover to its initial state after perturbation by a wakefield. The many-nanosecond-level recovery time measured establishes the in-principle attainability of megahertz rates of acceleration in plasmas. The experimental signatures of the perturbation are well described by simulations of a temporally evolving parabolic ion channel, transferring energy from the collapsing wake to the surrounding media. This result establishes that plasma-wakefield modules could be developed as feasible high-repetition-rate energy boosters at current and future particle-physics and photon-science facilities.

physics.acc-ph↗

Progress of the FLASHForward X-2 high-beam-quality, high-efficiency plasma-accelerator experiment

FLASHForward is an experimental facility at DESY dedicated to beam-driven plasma-accelerator research. The X-2 experiment aims to demonstrate acceleration with simultaneous beam-quality preservation and high energy efficiency in a compact plasma stage. We report on the completed commissioning, first experimental results, ongoing research topics, as well as plans for future upgrades.

physics.acc-ph↗

Multi-kT/m Focusing Gradient in a Linear Active Plasma Lens

Active plasma lenses are compact devices developed as a promising beam-focusing alternative for charged particle beams, capable of short focal lengths for high-energy beams. We have previously shown that linear magnetic fields with gradients of around 0.3 kT/m can be achieved in argon-filled plasma lenses that preserve beam emittance [C.A. Lindstrøm et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 194801 (2018)]. Here we show that with argon in a 500 μm diameter capillary, the fields are still linear with a focusing gradient of 3.6 kT/m, which is an order of magnitude higher than the gradients of quadrupole magnets. The current pulses that generate the magnetic field are provided by compact Marx banks, and are highly repeatable. These results establish active plasma lenses as an ideal device for pulsed particle beam applications requiring very high focusing gradients that are uniform throughout the lens aperture.

physics.acc-ph↗

Staging of High-Gradient Wakefield Accelerators

Accelerating particles to high energies with a high-gradient wakefield accelerator may require use of multiple stages. Coupling beams from one stage to another can be difficult due to high divergence and non-negligible energy spreads. We review the challenges, technical requirements and currently proposed methods for solving the staging problem.

physics.acc-ph↗

Matching small $β$ functions using centroid jitter and two beam position monitors

Matching to small beta functions is required to preserve emittance in plasma accelerators. The plasma wake provides strong focusing fields, which typically require beta functions on the mm-scale, comparable to those found in the final focusing of a linear collider. Such beams can be time consuming to experimentally produce and diagnose. We present a simple, fast, and noninvasive method to measure Twiss parameters in a linac using two beam position monitors only, relying on the similarity of the beam phase space and the jitter phase space. By benchmarking against conventional quadrupole scans, the viability of this technique was experimentally demonstrated at the FLASHForward plasma-accelerator facility.

physics.acc-ph↗

Tunable and precise two-bunch generation at FLASHForward

Beam-driven plasma-wakefield acceleration based on external injection has the potential to significantly reduce the size of future accelerators. Stability and quality of the acceleration process substantially depends on the incoming bunch parameters. Precise control of the current profile is essential for optimising energy-transfer efficiency and preserving energy spread. At the FLASHForward facility, driver--witness bunch pairs of adjustable bunch length and separation are generated by a set of collimators in a dispersive section, which enables fs-level control of the longitudinal bunch profile. The design of the collimator apparatus and its commissioning is presented.

physics.acc-ph↗

Emittance Preservation in an Aberration-Free Active Plasma Lens

Active plasma lensing is a compact technology for strong focusing of charged particle beams, which has gained considerable interest for use in novel accelerator schemes. While providing kT/m focusing gradients, active plasma lenses can have aberrations caused by a radially nonuniform plasma temperature profile, leading to degradation of the beam quality. We present the first direct measurement of this aberration, consistent with theory, and show that it can be fully suppressed by changing from a light gas species (helium) to a heavier gas species (argon). Based on this result, we demonstrate emittance preservation for an electron beam focused by an argon-filled active plasma lens.

physics.acc-ph↗

Measurement of transverse wakefields induced by a misaligned positron bunch in a hollow channel plasma accelerator

Hollow channel plasma wakefield acceleration is a proposed method to provide high acceleration gradients for electrons and positrons alike: a key to future lepton colliders. However, beams which are misaligned from the channel axis induce strong transverse wakefields, deflecting beams and reducing the collider luminosity. This undesirable consequence sets a tight constraint on the alignment accuracy of the beam propagating through the channel. Direct measurements of beam misalignment-induced transverse wakefields are therefore essential for designing mitigation strategies. We present the first quantitative measurements of transverse wakefields in a hollow plasma channel, induced by an off-axis 20 GeV positron bunch, and measured with another 20 GeV lower charge trailing positron probe bunch. The measurements are largely consistent with theory.

physics.acc-ph↗

Overview of the CLEAR plasma lens experiment

Discharge capillary-based active plasma lenses are a promising new technology for strongly focusing charged particle beams, especially when combined with novel high gradient acceleration methods. Still, many questions remain concerning such lenses, including their transverse field uniformity, limitations due to plasma wakefields and whether they can be combined in multi-lens lattices in a way to cancel chromaticity. These questions will be addressed in a new plasma lens experiment at the CLEAR User Facility at CERN. All the subsystems have been constructed, tested and integrated into the CLEAR beam line, and are ready for experiments starting late 2017.

physics.acc-ph↗