Fast-Track : Laser Wire Scanner for Energy Recover Linacs

For high average current electron accelerators, such as Energy Recovery Linacs (ERL), monitoring of the basic electron beam properties, such as transverse envelope evolution, emittance, and bunch length, is a critical operational need. Yet, most of the conventional diagnostics to make such measurements are interceptive in nature, and thus not suitable to withstand the impact of MW-class electron beams. Hence new, non-degradable diagnostic approaches are sought. One promising non-degradable approach towards monitoring high average current electron beam properties is a laser wire scanner (LWS). The goal of this proposal is to develop an inexpensive, flange-to-flange, laser wire scanner system specifically adapted to ERL parameters space. This tool will simplify the approach towards ERL commissioning, troubleshooting, tuning and optimization. The proposed system utilizes special features of ERL beams, such as relatively long bunch length, ultra-high repetition rate, and low resolution requirements, to achieve optimal LWS efficiency in a cost effective manner. This Fast Track project is a collaboration with the ERL facility at Cornell University Wilson Laboratory, to develop and test experimentally a prototype LWS system for ERL applications, and to subsequently commercialize such system. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Presently, there is significant number of ERL facilities in operation and under development. A broader accessible market is a rapidly growing segment of superconducting linear accelerators with high duty cycle. The LWS system will be marketed as a flange-to-flange, semi-custom, turn key commercial diagnostic product. It is expected that each qualified facility will be interested in purchasing multiple units. A successful development of the proposed LWS system will immediately provide needed diagnostic tool to Cornell ERL, and expand RadiaBeam products offerings to cover the growing market segment of high average power accelerating systems.