Superconducting elliptical cavities

We give a brief overview of the history, state of the art, and future for elliptical superconducting cavities. Principles of the cell shape optimization, criteria for multi-cell structures design, HOM damping schemes and other features are discussed along with examples of superconducting structures for various applications.Comment: 25 pages, contribution to the CAS - CERN Accelerator School: Specialised Course on RF for Accelerators; 8 - 17 Jun 2010, Ebeltoft, Denmar

Superconducting Superstructure for the TESLA Collider

We discuss the new layout of a cavity chain (superstructure) allowing, we hope, significant cost reduction of the RF system of both linacs of the TESLA linear collider. The proposed scheme increases the fill factor and thus makes an effective gradient of an accelerator higher. We present mainly computations we have performed up to now and which encouraged us to order the copper model of the scheme, still keeping in mind that experiments with a beam will be necessary to prove if the proposed solution can be used for the acceleration.Comment: 11 page

Prospects for CW and LP operation of the European XFEL in hard X-ray regime

The European XFEL will operate nominally at 17.5 GeV in SP (short pulse) mode with 0.65 ms long bunch train and 10 Hz repetition rate. A possible upgrade of the linac to CW (continuous wave) or LP (long pulse) modes with a corresponding reduction of electron beam energy is under discussion since many years. Recent successes in the dedicated R&D program allow to forecast a technical feasibility of such an upgrade in the foreseeable future. One of the challenges is to provide sub-Angstrom FEL operation in CW and LP modes. In this paper we perform a preliminary analysis of a possible operation of the European XFEL in the hard X-ray regime in CW and LP modes with the energies of 7 GeV and 10 GeV, respectively. We consider lasing in the baseline XFEL undulator as well as in a new undulator with a reduced period. We show that, with reasonable requirements on electron beam quality, lasing on the fundamental will be possible in sub-Angstrom regime. As an option for generation of brilliant photon beams at short wavelengths we also consider harmonic lasing that has recently attracted a significant attention

Linking unfounded beliefs to genetic dopamine availability

Unfounded convictions involving beliefs in the paranormal, grandiosity ideas or suspicious thoughts are endorsed at varying degrees among the general population. Here, we investigated the neurobiopsychological basis of the observed inter-individual variability in the propensity toward unfounded beliefs. One hundred two healthy individuals were genotyped for four polymorphisms in the COMT gene (rs6269, rs4633, rs4818, and rs4680, also known as val158met) that define common functional haplotypes with substantial impact on synaptic dopamine degradation, completed a questionnaire measuring unfounded beliefs, and took part in a behavioral experiment assessing perceptual inference. We found that greater dopamine availability was associated with a stronger propensity toward unfounded beliefs, and that this effect was statistically mediated by an enhanced influence of expectations on perceptual inference. Our results indicate that genetic differences in dopaminergic neurotransmission account for inter-individual differences in perceptual inference linked to the formation and maintenance of unfounded beliefs. Thus, dopamine might be critically involved in the processes underlying one's interpretation of the relationship between the self and the world

RF Measurements of the 1.6 cell Lead Niobium Photoinjector in HoBiCat

The development of a simple and robust SRF photoinjector capable of delivering 1 mA average current in c.w. operation continues to advance with the horizontal RF testing of the 1.6 cell Pb Nb hybrid photoinjector. This injector utilizes a sputtered lead coating on a removable Nb cathode plug as the photoelectron source and has recently been tested in the horizontal test cryostat facility, HoBiCaT, at Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin. In this paper we will report on the status of these RF measurements and compare the performance to previous vertical RF tests performed at Jefferson Laboratory. We will also provide a summary of the cavity tuning range and microphonics measurements now that it has been installed into a helium vessel equipped with a Saclay style tuner

Results from Beam Commissioning of an SRF Plug Gun Cavity Photoinjector

Superconducting rf photo electron injectors SRF photoinjectors hold the promise to deliver high brightness, high average current electron beams for future light sources or other applications demanding continuous wave operation of an electron injector. This paper discusses results from beam commissioning of a hybrid SRF photoinjector based on a Pb coated plug and a Nb rf gun cavity for beam energies up to 2.5MeV at Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin HZB . Emittance measurements and transverse phase space characterization with solenoid scan and slitmask methods will be presente