MarrowCellDLD: a microfluidic method for label-free retrieval of fragile bone marrow-derived cells.

Functional bone marrow studies have focused primarily on hematopoietic progenitors, leaving limited knowledge about other fragile populations, such as bone marrow adipocytes (BMAds) and megakaryocytes. The isolation of these cells is challenging due to rupture susceptibility and large size. We introduce here a label-free cytometry microsystem, MarrowCellDLD, based on deterministic lateral displacement. MarrowCellDLD enables the isolation of large, fragile BM-derived cells based on intrinsic size properties while preserving their viability and functionality. Bone marrow adipocytes, obtained from mouse and human stromal line differentiation, as well as megakaryocytes, from primary human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, were used for validation. Precise micrometer-range separation cutoffs were adapted for each cell type. Cells were sorted directly in culture media, without pre-labeling steps, and with real-time imaging for quality control. At least 10 <sup>6</sup> cells were retrieved intact per sorting round. Our method outperformed two FACS instruments in purity and yield, particularly for large cell size fractions. MarrowCellDLD represents a non-destructive sorting tool for large, fragile BM-derived cells, facilitating the separation of pure populations of BMAds and megakaryocytes to further investigate their physiological and pathological roles

A 3 GHz photoelectron gun for high beam intensity

For the Compact Linear Collider Test Facility (CTF) at CERN a new rf gun with a laser driven photocathode is under construction. The new rf gun will replace the present 11/2 cell gun and will consist of 21/2 cells accelerating the beam to a momentum of 7.0 MeV/c with an electric field strength of 100 MV/m. The strong space-charge forces at low beam energy caused by the high charge density of the electron bunches are contained by radial and longitudinal rf focusing in the gun. The rf gun under construction has been optimized by MAFIA beam simulations for an injector assembly comprising a second accelerating rf structure and an intermediate solenoid magnet correcting the beam divergence of the 21/2 cell gun. The beam loading of the rf gun, by a train of 48 bunches with 21 nC charge each, causes a strong energy decay accompanied by an increase of the flight time for the bunches with lower energy. These effects can be corrected by slightly shifting the acceleration frequency of the gun. The experimental results obtained with the 11/2 cell gun and booster section presently in operation are reported

Demonstration of two-beam acceleration in CTF II

The second phase of the Compact LInear Collider (CLIC) Test Facility (CTF II) at CERN has demon-strated the feasibility of two-beam acceleration at 30 GHz using a high-charge drive beam, running paral lel to the main beam, as the RF power source. To date accelerating gradients of 59 MV/m at 30 GHz have been achieved. In CTF II, the two beams are generated by 3 GHz RF photo-injectors and are acceler ated in 3 GHz linacs, before injection into the 30 GHz modules. The drive beam linac has to accelerate a 16 ns long train of 48 bunches, each with a nominal charge of 13.4 nC. To cope with the very su bstantial beam-loading special accelerating structures are used (running slightly off the bunch repetition frequency). A magnetic chicane compresses the bunches to less than 5 ps fwhm, this is needed for efficient 30 GHz power generation. The 30 GHz modules are fully-engineered representative sections of CLIC, they include a 30 GHz decelerator for the drive beam, a 30 GHz accelerator for the main beam, high resolution BPM's and a wire-based active align-ment system. The performance achieved so far, as well as the operational experience with the first accelerator of this type, are reported

Results from the CLIC Test Facility

In order to study the principle of the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) based on the Two Beam Acceleration (TBA) scheme at high frequency, a CLIC Test Facility (CTF) has been set-up at CERN. After four years of successful running, the experimental programme is now fully completed and all its objectives reached, particularly the generation of a high intensity drive beam with short bunches by a photo-injector, the production of 30 GHz RF power and the acceleration of a probe beam by 30 GHz structures. A summary of the CTF results and their impact on linear collider design is given. This covers 30 GHz high power testing, study of intense, short single bunches; as well as RF-Gun, photocathode and beam diagnostic developments. A second phase of the test facility (CTF2) is presently being installed to demonstrate the feasibility of the TBA scheme by constructing a fully engineered, 10 m long, test section very similar to the CLIC drive and main linacs, producing up to 480 MW of peak RF power at 30 GHz and accelerating the beam up to 320 MeV. The present status of CTF2 is reported