Transformer Ratio Enhancement Experiment for Next Generation Dielectric Wakefield Accelerators

70838 Dielectric wakefield acceleration is presently being studied intensively as a promising technique to provide efficient and cost effective high gradient acceleration of electrons for next generation linear colliders. This project will develop an experimental scheme to enhance the efficiency of dielectric wakefield acceleration by up to factor of 4 compared to conventional collinear wakefield accelerators. In particular, a ramped, multibunch Dielectric Wakefield Accelerator will be designed, developed, and demonstrated, increasing the energy transfer efficiency from the accelerating structure to the accelerated electron beam. In Phase I, a 13 GHz ceramic structure with dielectric constant of 17-20 and Q-factor of 10,000 will be designed and tested. The required ceramics will be manufactured using state-of-the-art techniques to achieve the necessary mechanical tolerances and uniformity of electrical properties. Ramped bunch train parameters will be simulated and optimized for the accelerating structure. Numerical simulations of the beam dynamics of the electron beams in the accelerating structure will be completed for the ceramic 13 GHz structure. Lastly, the characteristics of the bunch train produced by the new splitter assembly will be measured. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The enhanced efficiency for Wakefield acceleration could be applied to a variety of accelerators, not only those dedicated to high energy physics. In addition, the advanced ceramic material developed for the accelerating structure should find multiple applications for the dielectric resonators and filters in the wireless communication market, and also may find applications to radar and stealth technologies.