skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Microwave inverse {hacek C}erenkov accelerator

Journal Article · · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Omega-P, Inc., 202008 Yale Station, New Haven, Connecticut 06520 (United States)

Testing and analysis have been carried out on a dielectrically lined waveguide, which appears to be a suitable structure for accelerating electrons. From the dispersion relation for the TM{sub 01} mode, inner and outer radii of a copper-clad alumina pipe ({var_epsilon}=9.40) have been determined such that the phase and group velocities are 0.9732{ital c} and 0.1096{ital c}, respectively. Analysis and particle simulation studies for the injection of 6-MeV microbunches from a 2.856-GHz rf gun, and subsequent acceleration by the TM{sub 01} fields, predict that an acceleration gradient of 6.3 Mv/m can be achieved with a traveling-wave power of 15 MW applied to the structure. Synchronous injection into a narrow phase window allows trapping of all injected particles. The rf fields of the accelerating structure provide radial focusing, so that longitudinal and transverse emittance growth during acceleration is small and that no external magnetic fields are required for focusing. The acceleration mechanism is the inverse of that in which electrons radiate as they traverse a waveguide at speeds exceeding the phase velocity of the microwaves (Cerenkov radiation) and is thus referred to as a microwave inverse Cerenkov accelerator. For 0.16-nC, 5-psec microbunches, the normalized emittance of the accelerated beam is predicted to be less than 5{pi} mrad. Experiments on sample alumina tubes have been conducted that verify the theoretical dispersion relation for the TM{sub 01} mode over a two-to-one range in frequency. No excitation of axisymmetric or nonaxisymmetric competing waveguide modes was observed. High power tests showed that tangential electric fields at the inner surface of an uncoated sample of alumina pipe could be sustained up to 8.4 MV/m without breakdown. These considerations suggest that a microwave inverse Cerenkov test accelerator can be built to examine these predictions using an available rf power source, a 6-MeV rf gun, and an associated beam line.

OSTI ID:
288891
Journal Information:
Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Vol. 54, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Microwave inverse Cerenkov accelerator
Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings · OSTI ID:288891

A survey of microwave inverse FEL and inverse cerenkov accelerators
Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings · OSTI ID:288891

A microwave inverse Cerenkov accelerator ({open_quotes}MICA{close_quotes})
Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1995 · Bulletin of the American Physical Society · OSTI ID:288891