Development of a CW NCRF Photoinjector Using Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF)

The development of very-high-duty-cycle, high-gradient photoinjectors is critical for the next generation of accelerator systems used in DOE user facilities. These systems include X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs), inverse Compton scattering (ICS) sources, energy recovery linear accelerators (ERLs), and injectors for linear colliders. A key issue for achieving such photoinjectors is efficient structure cooling. The fabrication of current state-of-the-art high-average-power photoinjectors relies on conventional design and fabrication techniques, requiring a multitude of braze joints, and limited cooling channel geometries. This project will investigate a novel fabrication technique that will allow complex, conformal cooling channels to be integrated into a re-entrant gun design. In Phase I, sample pieces of copper produced with this new technique will be tested. A photoinjector gun will be designed, and its thermal performance will be evaluated with the improved cooling channels. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardeeIn addition to DOE applications, very-high-duty-cycle, high-gradient photoinjectors should find imaging/analysis applications in medicine and homeland security. The technology also may be applied to a wide variety of structures, such as linacs and klystrons