• M. Shverdin, F. Albert, S.G. Anderson, C.P.J. Barty, A.J. Bayramian, M. Betts, T.S. Chu, C.A. Ebbers, D.J. Gibson, F.V. Hartemann, R.A. Marsh, D.P. McNabb, M. J. Messerly, H.H. Phan, M.A. Prantil, C. Siders, S.S.Q. Wu
  LLNL, Livermore, California

Generation of mono-energetic, high brightness gamma-rays requires state of the art lasers to both produce a low emittance electron beam in the linac and high intensity, narrow linewidth laser photons for scattering with the relativistic electrons. Here, we overview the laser systems for the 3rd generation Monoenergetic Gamma-ray Source (MEGa-ray) currently under construction at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. We also describe a method for increasing the efficiency of laser Compton scattering through laser pulse recirculation. The fiber-based photoinjector laser will produce 50 uJ temporally and spatially shaped UV pulses at 120 Hz to generate a low emmittance electron beam in the X-band RF photoinjector. The interaction laser generates high intensity photons that focus into the interaction region and scatter off the accelerated electrons. This system utilizes chirped pulse amplification and commercial diode pumped solid state Nd:YAG amplifiers to produce 0.5 J, 10 ps, 120 Hz pulses at 10⁶⁴ nm and up to 0.2 J after frequency doubling. A single passively mode-locked Ytterbium fiber oscillator seeds both laser systems and provides a timing synch with the linac.

• F.V. Hartemann, F. Albert, S.G. Anderson, C.P.J. Barty, A.J. Bayramian, T.S. Chu, R.R. Cross, C.A. Ebbers, D.J. Gibson, R.A. Marsh, D.P. McNabb, M. J. Messerly, M. Shverdin, C. Siders
  LLNL, Livermore, California
• E.N. Jongewaard, T.O. Raubenheimer, S.G. Tantawi, A.E. Vlieks
  SLAC, Menlo Park, California
• V. A. Semenov
  UCB, Berkeley, California

Recent progress in accelerator physics and laser technology have enabled the development of a new class of tunable gamma-ray light sources based on Compton scattering between a high-brightness, relativistic electron beam and a high intensity laser pulse produced via chirped-pulse amplification (CPA). A precision, tunable Mono-Energetic Gamma-ray (MEGa-ray) source driven by a compact, high-gradient X-band linac is currently under development and construction at LLNL. High-brightness, relativistic electron bunches produced by an X-band linac designed in collaboration with SLAC will interact with a Joule-class, 10 ps, diode-pumped CPA laser pulse to generate tunable γ-rays in the 0.5-2.5 MeV photon energy range via Compton scattering. This MEGa-ray source will be used to excite nuclear resonance fluorescence in various isotopes. Applications include homeland security, stockpile science and surveillance, nuclear fuel assay, and waste imaging and assay. The source design, key parameters, and current status are presented, along with important applications, including nuclear resonance fluorescence, photo-fission, and medical imaging.

• T.S. Chu, S.G. Anderson, C.P.J. Barty, D.J. Gibson, F.V. Hartemann, R.A. Marsh, C. Siders
  LLNL, Livermore, California
• C. Adolphsen, E.N. Jongewaard, T.O. Raubenheimer, S.G. Tantawi, A.E. Vlieks, J.W. Wang
  SLAC, Menlo Park, California

A Mono-Energetic Gamma-Ray Compton scattering light source is being developed at LLNL. The electron beam for the interaction will be generated by a X-band RF gun and LINAC at the frequency of 11.424 GHz. High power RF in excess of 500 MW is needed to accelerate the electrons to energy of 250 MeV or greater. Two high power klystrons, each capable of generating 50 MW, 1.5 msec pulses, will be the main RF sources for the system. These klystrons will be powered by state of the art solid-state high voltage modulators. A RF pulse compressor, similar to the SLED II pulse compressor, will compress the klystron output pulse with a power gain factor of five. For compactness consideration, we are looking at a folded RF line. The goal is to obtain 500 MW at output of the compressor. The compressed pulse will then be distributed to the RF gun and to six traveling wave accelerator sections. Phase shifter and amplitude control are located at the RF gun input and additional control points along the LINAC to allow for parameter control during operation. This high power RF system is being designed and constructed. In this paper, we will present the design, layout, and status of this RF system.

• R.A. Marsh, S.G. Anderson, C.P.J. Barty, T.S. Chu, C.A. Ebbers, D.J. Gibson, F.V. Hartemann
  LLNL, Livermore, California
• C. Adolphsen, E.N. Jongewaard, T.O. Raubenheimer, S.G. Tantawi, A.E. Vlieks, J.W. Wang
  SLAC, Menlo Park, California

In support of Compton scattering gamma-ray source efforts at LLNL, a multi-bunch test stand is being developed to investigate accelerator optimization for future upgrades. This test stand will enable work to explore the science and technology paths required to boost the current 10 Hz mono-energetic gamma-ray (MEGa-Ray) technology to an effective repetition rate exceeding 1 kHz, potentially increasing the average gamma-ray brightness by two orders of magnitude. Multiple bunches must be of exceedingly high quality to produce narrow-bandwidth gamma-rays. Modeling efforts will be presented, along with plans for a multi-bunch test stand at LLNL. The test stand will consist of a 5.5 cell X-band rf photoinjector, single accelerator section, and beam diagnostics. The photoinjector will be a high gradient standing wave structure, featuring a dual feed racetrack coupler. The accelerator will increase the electron energy so that the emittance can be measured using quadrupole scanning techniques. Multi-bunch diagnostics will be developed so that the beam quality can be measured and compared with theory. Design will be presented with modeling simulations, and layout plans.

• A.E. Vlieks, V.A. Dolgashev, S.G. Tantawi
  SLAC, Menlo Park, California
• S.G. Anderson, F.V. Hartemann, R.A. Marsh
  LLNL, Livermore, California

In support of the T-REX program at LLNL and the High Gradient research program at SLAC, a new X-band multi-cell RF gun is being developed. This gun, similar to an earlier gun developed at SLAC for Compton X-ray source program, will be a standing wave structure made of 5.5 cells operating in the pi mode with copper cathode. This gun was designed following criteria used to build SLAC X-band high gradient accelerating structures. It is anticipated that this gun will operate with surface electric fields on the cathode of 200MeV/m with low breakdown rate. RF will be coupled into the structure through a symmetric final cell with a shape optimized to eliminable both dipole and quadruple field components. In addition, geometry changes to the original gun, operated with Compton X-ray source, will include a wider RF mode separation, reduced surface electric and magnetic fields.

• B.J. Munroe, R.A. Marsh, M.A. Shapiro, R.J. Temkin
  MIT/PSFC, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Photonic bandgap (PBG) structures show promising results for use in future collider applications. Both acceleration and wakefield damping have been demonstrated experimentally. The breakdown performance of a single cell PBG structure was tested at X-band at SLAC and found to have significant contributions from magnetic field effects. A new structure has been designed at 17.1 GHz to be tested at MIT to investigate the scaling of these and other breakdown effects with frequency. The 17.1 GHz structure will also use the open nature of the PBG lattice to greatly improve the breakdown diagnostics. Finally, a novel PBG structure has been designed for testing at SLAC using elliptical inner rods. This design significantly reduces the pulsed heating in the structure and should therefore improve the breakdown performance.