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.
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 so
urce, 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.
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 powe
r, 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.
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). Th
e 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.
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 configu
ration 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.
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.
