arXiv subjects

F. Le Pimpec

Publications and source records attributed to F. Le Pimpec.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2016

Commissioning experience and beam physics measurements at the SwissFEL Injector Test Facility

The SwissFEL Injector Test Facility operated at the Paul Scherrer Institute between 2010 and 2014, serving as a pilot plant and testbed for the development and realization of SwissFEL, the X-ray Free-Electron Laser facility under construction at the same institute. The test facility consisted of a laser-driven rf electron gun followed by an S-band booster linac, a magnetic bunch compression chicane and a diagnostic section including a transverse deflecting rf cavity. It delivered electron bunches of up to 200 pC charge and up to 250 MeV beam energy at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. The measurements performed at the test facility not only demonstrated the beam parameters required to drive the first stage of an FEL facility, but also led to significant advances in instrumentation technologies, beam characterization methods and the generation, transport and compression of ultra-low-emittance beams. We give a comprehensive overview of the commissioning experience of the principal subsystems and the beam physics measurements performed during the operation of the test facility, including the results of the test of an in-vacuum undulator prototype generating radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet and optical range.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Emittance Growth by Beam-Gas Scattering in Single Pass Accelerator

In order to ensure proper SASE lasing of a fourth Generation light source, one of the goal is to produce an electron beam of small emittance and to conserve it until its used in the machine undulator. One of the non recoverable emittance increase is the collision of the electron beam during its transport with the residual gas. Based on previous work by others, we have derived a useful expression of emittance increase for electrons of any energy and cross check its validity for energies above 100 MeV with an analytical formula.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2012

Quantum efficiency of technical metal photocathodes under laser irradiation of various wavelength

Quantum efficiency studies for various wavelength and various technical metal surfaces were carried out in a dedicated unbaked vacuum chamber. Copper, magnesium, aluminium and aluminium-lithium photocathodes were irradiated by two different high power, high repetition rate, laser systems. We have observed an emission of electrons for photon energy below the work function of the material. This is explained by multiple photon absorption at the photocathode. We have not observed any degradation of the QE for those materials, but an improvement when irradiating them over a long period of time. This is contrary to observations made in RF photoguns.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2012

Dark Current Studies for SwissFEL

Activation of the surroundings of an accelerator must be quantified and those data provided to the official agencies. This is a necessary step in obtaining the authorization to operate such an accelerator. SwissFEL, being a fourth generation light source, will produce more accelerated charges, which are dumped or lost, than conventional third generation light source, such as the Swiss Light Source. We have simulated the propagation of a dark current beam produced in the photoelectron gun using tracking codes like ASTRA and Elegant for the current layout of SwissFEL. Experimental studies have been carried out at the SwissFEL test facilities at PSI (C-Band RF Stand and SwissFEL Injector Test Facility), in order to provide necessary input data for detailed study of components (RF gun and C-band RF structures) using the simulation code OPAL. A summary of these studies are presented.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2012

Electromigration occurrences and its effects on metallic surfaces submitted to high electromagnetic field : A novel approach to breakdown in accelerators

The application of a high electrical field on metallic surfaces leads to the well described phenomena of breakdown. In the classical scenario, explosive electron emission (EEE), breakdown (BD) originates from an emitting site (surface protrusion). The conditioning process consists of "burning" the emitting sites one after another and numerous observations exhibit surfaces covered with molten craters that more or less overlap. When dealing with RF cavities for accelerators, where increasingly fields are now sought, one can legitimately wonder if other physical phenomena should also be taken into account. In particular, we believe that electromigration, especially at surfaces or grain boundaries cannot be neglected anymore at high field (i.e. 50-100 MV/m). Many publications in the domain of liquid metal emission sources show that very stable and strong emission sources, either ions or electrons, build up on metallic surfaces submitted to electrical fields through a mechanism that is slightly different from the usual localized breakdown evoked in accelerators. This mechanism involves the combination of electromigration and collective motion of surface atoms. The recent results obtained on 30 GHz CLIC (Compact Linear Collider) accelerating structures, altogether with the data exposed hereafter have led us to propose a complementary scenario (pre-plasma apparition), based on electromigration, which could explain early melting of large areas of the surface.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2010

Empirical comparison of high gradient achievement for different metals in DC and pulsed mode

For the SwissFEL project, an advanced high gradient low emittance gun is under development. Reliable operation with an electric field, preferably above 125 MV/m at a 4 mm gap, in the presence of an UV laser beam, has to be achieved in a diode configuration in order to minimize the emittance dilution due to space charge effects. In the first phase, a DC breakdown test stand was used to test different metals with different preparation methods at voltages up to 100 kV. In addition high gradient stability tests were also carried out over several days in order to prove reliable spark-free operation with a minimum dark current. In the second phase, electrodes with selected materials were installed in the 250 ns FWHM, 500 kV electron gun and tested for high gradient breakdown and for quantum efficiency using an ultra-violet laser.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2010

Experimental Study of Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) Coated Electrodes for Pulsed High Gradient Electron Gun

For the SwissFEL Free Electron Laser project at the Paul Scherrer Institute, a pulsed High Gradient (HG) electron gun was used to study low emittance electron sources. Different metals and surface treatments for the cathode and anode were studied for their HG suitability. Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coatings are found to perform exceptionally well for vacuum gap insulation. A set of DLC coated electrodes with different coating parameters were tested for both vacuum breakdown and photo electron emission. Surface electric fields over 250MV/m (350 - 400kV, pulsed) were achieved without breakdown. From the same surface, it was possible to photo-emit an electron beam at gradients up to 150MV/m. The test setup and the experimental results are presented

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2007

Summary of SLAC'S SEY Measurement On Flat Accelerator Wall Materials

The electron cloud effect (ECE) causes beam instabilities in accelerator structures with intense positively charged bunched beams. Reduction of the secondary electron yield (SEY) of the beam pipe inner wall is effective in controlling cloud formation. We summarize SEY results obtained from flat TiN, TiZrV and Al surfaces carried out in a laboratory environment. SEY was measured after thermal conditioning, as well as after low energy, less than 300 eV, particle exposure.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2007

Field Emission Dark Current of Technical Metallic Electrodes

In the framework of the Low Emittance Gun (LEG) project, high gradient acceleration of a low emittance electron beam will be necessary. In order to achieve this acceleration a -500 kV, 250 ns FWHM, pulse will be applied in between two electrodes. Those electrodes should sustain the pulsed field without arcing, must not outgass and must not emit electrons. Ion back bombardment, and dark current will be damageable to the electron source as well as for the low emittance beam. Electrodes of commercially available OFE copper, aluminium, stainless steel, titanium and molybdenum were tested following different procedures including plasma glow discharge cleaning.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2006

The Effect of Gas Ion Bombardment on the Secondary Electron Yield of TiN, TiCN and TiZrV Coatings For Suppressing Collective Electron Effects in Storage Rings

In many accelerator storage rings running positively charged beams, ionization of residual gas and secondary electron emission (SEE) in the beam pipe will give rise to an electron cloud which can cause beam blow-up or loss of the circulating beam. A preventative measure that suppresses electron cloud formation is to ensure that the vacuum wall has a low secondary emission yield (SEY). The SEY of thin films of TiN, sputter deposited Non-Evaporable Getters and a novel TiCN alloy were measured under a variety of conditions, including the effect of re-contamination from residual gas.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2006

Nanoseconds field emitted current pulses from ZrC needles and field emitter arrays

The properties of the electron source define the ultimate limit of the beam quality in linear accelerators like Free Electron Lasers (FEL). The goal is to develop an electron gun delivering beam emittance lower than current state of the art. Such a gun should reduce the cost and size of an X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL). In this paper we present two concepts of field emitter cathodes which could potentially produce low emittance beam. The first challenging parameter for such cathode is to emit peak current as high as 5 A. This is the minimum current requirement for the XFEL concept from Paul Scherrer Institut.1 Maximum current of 0.12 A and 0.58 A have been reached respectively with field emitter arrays (FEA) and single needle cathodes. Laser assisted field emission gave encouraging results to reach even higher peak current and to pre-bunch the beam.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2004

Electron Conditioning of Technical Aluminium Surfaces: Effect on the Secondary Electron Yield

The effect of electron conditioning on commercially aluminium alloys 1100 and 6063 were investigated. Contrary to the assumption that electron conditioning, if performed long enough, can reduce and stabilize the SEY to low values ($\leq 1.3$, value of many pure elements), the SEY of aluminium did not go lower than 1.8. In fact, it reincreases with continued electron exposure dose.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2004

Secondary Electron Yield Measurements of TiN Coating and TiZrV Getter Film

In the beam pipe of the positron Main Damping Ring (MDR) of the Next Linear Collider (NLC), ionization of residual gases and secondary electron emission give rise to an electron cloud which can cause the loss of the circulating beam. One path to avoid the electron cloud is to ensure that the vacuum wall has low secondary emission yield and, therefore, we need to know the secondary emission yield (SEY) for candidate wall coatings. We report on SEY measurements at SLAC on titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium-zirconium-vanadium (TiZrV) thin sputter-deposited films, as well as describe our experimental setup.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2004

Limitations on the Use of Acoustic Sensors in RF Breakdown Localization

X-band accelerator structures, meeting the Next Linear Collider (NLC) design requirements, have been found to suffer damage due to radio frequency (RF) breakdown when processed to high gradients. Improved understanding of these breakdown events is desirable for the development of structure designs, fabrication procedures, and processing techniques that minimize structure damage. Using an array of acoustic sensors, we have been able to pinpoint the location of individual breakdown events. However, a more accurate localization is required to understand the interaction between the phonon or the sound wave with the OFE copper.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2004

Secondary electron yield measurements from thin surface coatings for NLC electron cloud reduction

In the beam pipe of the positron damping ring of the Next Linear Collider, electrons will be created by beam interaction with the surrounding vacuum chamber wall and give rise to an electron cloud. Several solutions are possible for avoiding the electron cloud, without changing the bunch structure or the diameter of the vacuum chamber. Some of the currently available solutions for preventing this spurious electron load include reducing residual gas ionization by the beam, minimizing beam photon-induced electron production, and lowering the secondary electron yield (SEY) of the chamber wall. We will report on recent SEY measurements performed at SLAC on TiN coatings and TiZrV non-evaporable getter thin films.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2003

Surface Analysis of OFE-Copper X-Band Accelerating Structures and Possible Correlation to RF Breakdown Events

X-band accelerator structures meeting the Next Linear Collider (NLC) design requirements have been found to suffer vacuum surface damage caused by radio frequency (RF) breakdown, when processed to high electric-field gradients. Improved understanding of these breakdown events is desirable for the development of structure designs, fabrication procedures, and processing techniques that minimize structure damage. RF reflected wave analysis and acoustic sensor pickup have provided breakdowns localization in RF structures. Particle contaminations found following clean autopsy of four RF-processed travelling wave structures, have been catalogued and analyzed. Their influence on RF breakdown, as well as that of several other material-based properties, will be discussed.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2003

Study of Near-Field Vibration Sources for the NLC Linac Components

The vibration stability requirements for the Next Linear Collider (NLC) are far more stringent than for the previous generation of Colliders. To meet these goals, it is imperative that the effects of vibration on NLC Linac components from near-field sources (e.g. compressors, high vacuum equipment, klystrons, modulators, pumps, fans, etc) be well understood. The civil construction method, whether cut-and-cover or parallel bored tunnels, can determine the proximity and possible isolation of noise sources. This paper presents a brief summary and analysis of recently completed and planned studies for characterization of near-field vibration sources under either construction method. The results of in-situ vibration measurements will also be included.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2002

Effect of Cooling Water on Stability of NLC Linac Components

Vertical vibration of linac components (accelerating structures, girders and quadrupoles) in the NLC has been studied experimentally and analytically. Effects such as structural resonances and vibration caused by cooling water both in accelerating structures and quadrupoles have been considered. Experimental data has been compared with analytical predictions and simulations using ANSYS. A design, incorporating the proper decoupling of structure vibrations from the linac quadrupoles, is being pursued.

physics.acc-ph↗