Effects of rf breakdown on the beam in the Compact Linear Collider prototype accelerator structure

Understanding the effects of RF breakdown in high-gradient accelerator structures on the accelerated beam is an extremely relevant aspect in the development of the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) and is one of the main issues addressed at the Two-beam Test Stand at the CLIC Test Facility 3 at CERN. During a RF breakdown large electro-magnetic fields are generated and produce parasitic magnetic fields which interact with the accelerated beam affecting its orbit and energy. We discuss here measurements of such effects observed on an electron beam accelerated in a CLIC prototype structure. Measurements of the trajectory of bunch-trains on a nanosecond time-scale showed fast changes in correspondence of breakdown which we compare with measurements of the relative beam spots on a scintillating screen. We identify different breakdown scenarios for which we offer an explanation based also on measurements of the power at the input and output ports of the accelerator structure. Finally we present the distribution of the magnitude of the observed changes in the beam orbit and we discuss its correlation with RF power and breakdown location in the accelerator structure.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. We replace the previous version of the article with this one, in which we extend our discussion on the experimental set-up and on the interpretation of our measurements, on the basis of the inputs received during the review process for publication on Phys. Rev. Special Topics - Accelerators and Beams. The essence of our conclusions remain unchange

Experimental Observation of “Shadowing” in Optical Transition Radiation

We report the observation of shadowing between two optical transition radiation (OTR) sources from a 205 MeV electron beam. The total optical intensity is measured as a function of the distance $d$ between the sources, covering the range $0 \lt d \lt 4L_{\nu}$, where $L_{\nu}$ is the formation length of the particles. Data show that the total optical intensity starts decreasing due to shadowing when $d$ approaches $L_{\nu}$ until it becomes undetectable for very short distances $d/L_{\nu} \rightarrow 0$. A model based solely on interference between the two OTR sources is in good agreement with experimental data. To the knowledge of the authors this is the first systematic experimental observation of shadowing in OTR

Diffractive shadowing of coherent polarization radiation

We report on the study of shadowing of electromagnetic fields radiated in the Terahertz (THz) region from two consecutive sources of coherent diffraction and transition radiation. In these conditions, the formation length is predicted to be $\leq$ 100 m, and shadowing effects should result in an almost complete suppression of radiated fields within distances of the order of tens of centimeters. We experimentally measured that shadowing effects disappear for distances significantly shorter than those predicted. We propose a new model that explains our experimental observations by taking into account 3D diffraction effects. These findings will have a positive impact on the beneficial use of consecutive radiators both for the generation of intense electromagnetic radiation and for beam diagnostics using coherent polarization radiation from ultra-relativistic charged particles

The probe beam linac in CTF3

JACoW web site http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/AccelConf/e06/The test facility CTF3, presently under construction at CERN within an international collaboration, is aimed at demonstrating the key feasibility issues of the multi-TeV linear collider CLIC. The objective of the probe beam linac is to "mimic" the main beam of CLIC in order to measure precisely the performances of the 30 GHz CLIC accelerating structures. In order to meet the required parameters of this 200 MeV probe beam, in terms of emittance, energy spread and bunch-length, the most advanced techniques have been considered: laser triggered photo-injector, velocity bunching, beam-loading compensation, RF pulse compression ... The final layout is described, and the selection criteria and the beam dynamics results are reviewed

Testing the Properties of Beam-Dose Monitors for VHEE-FLASH Radiation Therapy

Very High Energy Electrons (VHEE) of 50 - 250 MeV are an attractive choice for FLASH radiation therapy (RT). Before VHEE-FLASH RT can be considered for clinical use, a reliable dosimetric and beam monitoring system needs to be developed, able to measure the dose delivered to the patient in real-time and cut off the beam in the event of a machine fault to prevent overdosing the patient. Ionisation chambers are the standard monitors in conventional RT; however, their response saturates at the high dose rates required for FLASH. Therefore, a new dosimetry method is needed that can provide reliable measurements of the delivered dose in these conditions. Experiments using 200 MeV electrons were done at the CLEAR facility at CERN to investigate the properties of detectors such as diamond beam loss detectors, GEM foil detectors, and Timepix3 ASIC chips. From the tests, the GEM foil proved to be the most promising

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) - 2018 Summary Report

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is a TeV-scale high-luminosity linear $e^+e^-$ collider under development at CERN. Following the CLIC conceptual design published in 2012, this report provides an overview of the CLIC project, its current status, and future developments. It presents the CLIC physics potential and reports on design, technology, and implementation aspects of the accelerator and the detector. CLIC is foreseen to be built and operated in stages, at centre-of-mass energies of 380 GeV, 1.5 TeV and 3 TeV, respectively. CLIC uses a two-beam acceleration scheme, in which 12 GHz accelerating structures are powered via a high-current drive beam. For the first stage, an alternative with X-band klystron powering is also considered. CLIC accelerator optimisation, technical developments and system tests have resulted in an increased energy efficiency (power around 170 MW) for the 380 GeV stage, together with a reduced cost estimate at the level of 6 billion CHF. The detector concept has been refined using improved software tools. Significant progress has been made on detector technology developments for the tracking and calorimetry systems. A wide range of CLIC physics studies has been conducted, both through full detector simulations and parametric studies, together providing a broad overview of the CLIC physics potential. Each of the three energy stages adds cornerstones of the full CLIC physics programme, such as Higgs width and couplings, top-quark properties, Higgs self-coupling, direct searches, and many precision electroweak measurements. The interpretation of the combined results gives crucial and accurate insight into new physics, largely complementary to LHC and HL-LHC. The construction of the first CLIC energy stage could start by 2026. First beams would be available by 2035, marking the beginning of a broad CLIC physics programme spanning 25-30 years

Measuring the full transverse beam matrix using a single octupole

We propose a method to fully determine the transverse beam matrix using a simple setup consisting of two steering magnets, an octupole field and a screen. This works in principle for any multipole field, i.e., sextupole, octupole magnet or a radio frequency structure with a multipole field. We have experimentally verified the method at the Compact Linear Collider Test Facility 3 at CERN using a Compact Linear Collider accelerating structure, which has an octupole component of the radio frequency fields. By observing the position shifts of the beam centroid together with changes in transverse beam size on a screen, we determined the full transverse beam matrix, with all correlations

Measuring the full transverse beam matrix using a single octupole

We propose a method to fully determine the transverse beam matrix using a simple setup consisting of two steering magnets, an octupole field and a screen. This works in principle for any multipole field, i.e., sextupole, octupole magnet or a radio frequency structure with a multipole field. We have experimentally verified the method at the Compact Linear Collider Test Facility 3 at CERN using a Compact Linear Collider accelerating structure, which has an octupole component of the radio frequency fields. By observing the position shifts of the beam centroid together with changes in transverse beam size on a screen, we determined the full transverse beam matrix, with all correlations