Kevin Pepitone

Le faisceau d’électrons (500 keV, 30 kA, 100 ns) produit par le générateur RKA (Relativistic Klystron Amplifier) est utilisé pour étudier des matériaux soumis à des chocs de basse fluence (< 10 cal/cm²). Leur réponse dépend des caractéristiques du faisceau, principalement en termes d’homogénéité spatiale lors de l’impact. Dans ce but, nous avons utilisé des diagnostics électriques et un diagnostic optique basé sur l’émission Cerenkov. Les photons visibles produits sont détectables par des caméras rapides. Nous avons ainsi pu étudier l’homogénéité du faisceau émis dans la diode sous vide en fonction des matériaux utilisés pour la cathode et pour l’anode, mais aussi pu suivre sa propagation dans une enceinte contenant un gaz à basse pression.Chaque partie de l’installation a été optimisée lors de cette thèse. Nous avons constaté qu’une cathode en velours avec des fibres bien ordonnées était le meilleur émetteur. Une anode d’une dizaine de micromètres d’épaisseur permet de diffuser le faisceau avant qu’il n’impacte la cible, améliorant encore son homogénéité. Ces travaux sur la diode ont été complétés par une étude de la propagation du faisceau dans une enceinte remplie d’air ou d’argon à différentes pressions, avec ou sans focalisation produite par un champ magnétique externe. D’après les résultats expérimentaux, un faisceau d’électrons de 400 keV, 4,2 kA peut être propagé, avec un rayon constant, dans 0,7 mbar d’argon. Enfin, pour interpréter les expériences, des simulations ont été réalisées à l’aide du code Monte Carlo Geant4 pour calculer l’interaction du faisceau avec la cible Cerenkov et l’anode. Au niveau de l’émission et du transport du faisceau, le bon accord obtenu avec les prédictions du code PIC Magic permet d’estimer les distributions des électrons par la simulation et d’initialiser correctement les calculs de réponse des matériaux.

In the framework of the Future Circular Collider Study a new septum magnet concept, nicknamed ‘SuShi’ has been developed, and a prototype was built at Wigner Research Center for Physics, and tested at the FREIA facility of Uppsala University in April 2023. The concept uses a canted cosine theta (CCT)-like superconducting magnet and a passive superconducting shield to create a zero-field and high-field region within its aperture. SuShi is the first CCT magnet with both of its winding layers simultaneously impregnated with wax. This paper describes the first powering test of the empty magnet at 4.2 K, without the shield being inserted in its aperture. The performance of the magnet, including the observation of quench-back, estimation of hot-spot temperatures and the fraction of energy dissipated in the magnet are presented, and most interestingly the absence of any quench during the entire testing period is reported. Sushi reached its nominal +5% peak field of 3.64 T at 450 A, which corresponds to 80% of the calculated short sample limit along the load line, without training.

In the framework of the future circular collider study, a new septum magnet concept (“SuShi”) has been developed, and a prototype was built at Wigner RCP, and tested at the FREIA facility of Uppsala University. The concept uses a canted cosine theta (CCT)-like superconducting magnet and a passive superconducting shield to create a zero-field and high-field region within its aperture. SuShi is the first CCT magnet with both of its winding layers simultaneously impregnated with wax. Details of the construction will be presented, with special emphasis on the wax impregnation procedure which deals with the $\sim$ 15% contraction of wax upon solidification. The empty magnet (no shield in its aperture) was powered without training to 450 A with a peak field of 3.64 T, corresponding to 80% of the short sample limit of the conductor along the load line. No quench or other anomaly was observed during the entire testing period. A clear onset of quench-back was observed above about 200 A.

A newly designed superconducting magnet of the Canted-Cosine-Theta (CCT) type was developed as a result of a collaboration between Swedish universities (Uppsala and Linneaus) and Swedish industries. This magnet was designed to function as a replacement of the present LHC orbit corrector magnets, which are approaching their end of life due to the radiation load. As a result, the new CCT magnet was developed to be more radiation tolerant and to constitute a one-to-one replacement to the currently installed version, which is a 1 m long 70 mm double aperture dipole magnet. The final magnet, which is currently under construction, will be tested at FREIA laboratory at Uppsala University and generate a magnetic field of 3.3 T and an integrated field of 2.8 Tm at about 85 A. To examine the magnet quench behavior and to identify a suitable quench protection system, the 3D electro-magnetic and thermal behavior of the coil was modeled using the RAT-Raccoon software. Based on the simulation results, a Metrosil varistor was selected to protect the magnet during the test. In this article, we report the results of the numerical analysis. The magnet model is equipped with a spot heater to initialize the quench and the temperature and voltages are monitored during the avalanche effect. The simulated current decay and the hot-spot temperature are analyzed with a focus on the impact of quench-back on the magnet protection.

Self-modulation is a beam–plasma instability that is useful to drive large-amplitude wakefields with bunches much longer than the plasma skin depth. We present experimental results showing that, when increasing the ratio between the initial transverse size of the bunch and the plasma skin depth, the instability occurs later along the bunch, or not at all, over a fixed plasma length because the amplitude of the initial wakefields decreases. We show cases for which self-modulation does not develop, and we introduce a simple model discussing the conditions for which it would not occur after any plasma length. Changing bunch size and plasma electron density also changes the growth rate of the instability. We discuss the impact of these results on the design of a particle accelerator based on the self-modulation instability seeded by a relativistic ionization front, such as the future upgrade of the Advanced WAKefield Experiment.

Silicon carbide (SiC) composite high-energy varistors have been demonstrated as a viable alternative to linear resistors as energy extraction devices during an abrupt loss of superconductivity in a magnet, called a quench. These have typically been installed external to the cryostat at ambient temperatures, but for some superconducting magnets it may be beneficial to mount the varistors within the cryostat in vacuum, a gaseous environment, or submerged in liquid cryogens. Varistors are semiconductors and therefore exhibit a temperature-dependent voltage–current relationship, so characterising their behaviour at low temperatures is important to predict their energy extraction behaviour. In this paper we present characterisation data of SiC varistor devices from 4–300 K: voltage-current characteristics, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal expansion, and flexural strength. These varistors are a candidate for protection at 1.9 K of the MCBY magnets, currently being built at Uppsala University for CERN.

A prototype CCT dipole magnet developed by a collaboration between Swedish universities, Swedish industry and CERN will be tested at Uppsala University. This 1 m long double-aperture magnet can provide a field strength of 3.3 T at 85 A in a 70 mm aperture with an integrated field of 2.8 Tm. It is intended to replace the current LHC orbit corrector magnets which are reaching the end of their expected life due to the radiation load. The new magnet is designed to handle the radiation dose of the upgrade to the high-luminosity LHC, which will deliver about ten times the current radiation dose. It must therefore be more resistant to radiation and meet strict requirements in terms of electrical insulation while matching the original field quality and self-protective capability, mechanical volume, and maximum excitation current. This paper will present the latest of the design and manufacturing work, including the results of simulations of the mechanical field and the mechanical stress. Details of the various tests performed before machining the parts are also presented.

We report an unusual regime of emittance self-compensation in an electron bunch generated in the blow-out mode by a radio-frequency photocathode gun. This regime is observed for a strong space-charge field on the cathode reaching around 30%–35% of the accelerating field. Simulations clearly show an initial growth and a subsequent self-compensation of projected emittance in a divergent electron bunch originating from the effects of: (a) strong space-charge forces of mirror charges on the cathode, (b) an energy chirp in the bunch and (c) substantial re-shaping of the electron bunch. Furthermore, we show analytically and numerically how a complex interplay between these effects leads to emittance self-compensation at the gun exit—the effect that is normally observed only in the presence of focusing fields.

Plasma wakefield acceleration is a promising technology to reduce the size of particle accelerators. The use of high energy protons to drive wakefields in plasma has been demonstrated during Run 1 of the AWAKE programme at CERN. Protons of energy 400 GeV drove wakefields that accelerated electrons to 2 GeV in under 10 m of plasma. The AWAKE collaboration is now embarking on Run 2 with the main aims to demonstrate stable accelerating gradients of 0.5–1 GV/m, preserve emittance of the electron bunches during acceleration and develop plasma sources scalable to 100s of metres and beyond. By the end of Run 2, the AWAKE scheme should be able to provide electron beams for particle physics experiments and several possible experiments have already been evaluated. This article summarises the programme of AWAKE Run 2 and how it will be achieved as well as the possible application of the AWAKE scheme to novel particle physics experiments.

The High Luminosity LHC requires dipole orbit correctors grouped in double aperture magnet assemblies. They provide a field of 3.1 T at 100 A in an aperture of 70 mm. The current standard design is a classical cosine-theta layout made with ribbon cable. However, the electric insulation of this cable is not radiation-resistant enough to withstand the radiation load expected in the coming years of LHC operation. A new design, based on a cable with polyimide insulator, that can replace the existing orbit correctors, is needed. The challenge is to design a magnet that fits directly into the existing positions and that can operate with the same busbars, passive quench protection, and power supplies. The new orbit corrector design meets high requirements on the field quality while keeping within the same mechanical volume and maximum excitation current. A collaboration of Swedish universities and Swedish industry has been formed for the development and production of a prototype magnet following a concurrent engineering methodology to reduce the time needed to produce a CCT magnet. The magnet has a 1 m long CCT dipole layout consisting of two coils. The superconductor is a commercially available 0.33 mm wire with polyimide insulation in a 6-around-1 cable. The channels in the coil formers, that determine the CCT layout, allow for $2\times 5$ cable layers. A total of 70 windings makes that the coil current can be kept below 100 A. We will present the detailed design and preliminary quench simulations.