Berlin 2024 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

AKBP: Arbeitskreis Beschleunigerphysik

AKBP 9: SRF-Cavities -Materials and Methods

AKBP 9.6: Talk

Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 16:15–16:30, E 020

Exploring the untapped potential of the next-generation SRF gun cavity — •Gowrishankar Thalagavadi Hallilingaiah and André Arnold — Helmholtz-Zentrum Rossendorf-Dresden, Dresden, Germany

A high beam brightness is a fundamental requirement for an electron linear accelerator, with the injector setting the lower limit for the achievable brightness. Over the past fifteen years at the ELBE accelerator in Dresden, the superconducting radio-frequency photoelectron injector (SRF gun) has been consistently delivering a high-brightness continuous wave electron beam, supporting the FEL, THz, and neutron experiments. Throughout this period, the gun cavity was operated below its design gradient due to the field emission from intricate cleaning and assembly processes, as well as contamination during cathode handling. A lower accelerating gradient reduces particle energy gain per cell and adversely affects beam quality by deviating from theoretical optima.

To overcome these limitations, a new cavity design is being explored, aiming to restrict the peak surface electric field to practically achievable levels. Additionally, the investigation includes the utilization of secondary TM and TE modes for improving the beam quality. Simultaneously, enhancements to the choke cell, cathode shape, and the transition from cell to beam pipe are being implemented to maximize the beam brightness and improve cavity cleaning. This contribution will discuss the initial findings obtained from the electromagnetic and beam dynamics simulations conducted on the new gun cavity.

Keywords: SRF cavity; Phot-injector; LINAC; TESLA cavity; RF cavity