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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 253 records · Page 14

An Artificial Neural Network System for Photon-Based Active Interrogation Applications

Active interrogation (AI) is a promising technique to detect shielded special nuclear materials (SNMs). At the University of Michigan, we are developing a photon-based AI system that uses bremsstrahlung radiation from an electron linear accelerator (linac) as an ionizing source and stilbene organic scintillating detectors for neutron detection. Stilbene scintillators are sensitive to fast neutrons and photons and have excellent pulse shape discrimination (PSD) capabilities. The traditional charge integration (CI) method commonly used for PSD analysis eliminates piled-up pulses and relies on a particle discrimination line to separate neutrons and photons. The presence of the intense photon flux during AI creates a significant number of piled-up events in the stilbene scintillator, thereby posing a great challenge to the traditional CI method. Identifying true single neutron pulses becomes challenging due to the presence of a pile-up cloud and overlapping neutron, photon and pile-up clouds in the PSD analysis. To mitigate the effect of pulse pile up and identify true single neutron pulses from stilbene scintillators, an artificial neural network (ANN) system is developed. The developed ANN system identifies single neutron pulses and neutron-photon combinations from piled-up events. The results obtained from a 252Cf measurement in the presence of the intense photon flux show that the developed ANN system outperforms the traditional CI method. Since many piled-up events lie above the particle discrimination line, they get misclassified as neutrons by the traditional CI method resulting in 25% overestimation of the net neutron count rate during the linac pulse. The overall net neutron count rate (single and restored neutrons) during the linac pulse, estimated by the ANN system is 60% of the ground truth. Energy spectroscopy of the ANN attributed single neutron pulses further provides evidence on the detection of prompt fission neutrons from the 252Cf fission source.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Neutron generator based on intense lithium beam driver

We are proposing a compact neutron generator based on a Li beam driver. The proposed neutron generator comprises a laser ion source, a radio-frequency quadrupole linear accelerator (RFQ linac), a drift tube linac, and a target containing protons. In the generator, the lithium ion is used as a projectile instead of protons to utilize the kinematic focusing technique. The technique enables us to enhance the neutron flux without increasing the beam energy, which is important to develop a clean compact neutron generator. Moreover, the combination of a laser ion source and a RFQ linac with the direct plasma injection scheme will provide several tens of mA of a fully ionized lithium beam, which is much higher than that of conventional heavy ion sources comparable with proton drivers. Neutrons are generated by the nuclear reaction of the lithium ions and protons in the beam target. In this paper, we reported the current status of the development. For RFQ, we designed the RFQ rods to accelerate 40 mA of 7Li3+. We fabricated and installed the rods into a cavity, and, as a first test, accelerated 10 mA of C6+ successfully.

Ikeda, Shunsuke (ORCID:0000000339800577)↗

High-gradient performance of a prototype accelerator cavity for a 3 GeV proton radiography booster

This paper reports the design, fabrication, and results of the high-gradient conditioning and testing for a two-cell, π -mode, standing wave normal-conducting prototype booster cavity for the proposed 3 GeV proton linac upgrade at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Increasing the energy of proton beam from the existing 800 MeV to 3 GeV will improve resolution of the proton radiography by up to 10 times. The proposed energy boost can be achieved with a compact normal-conducting high-gradient radio-frequency (rf) linac section. The C-band section of the booster linac was designed with optimized-shaped copper accelerator cavities with distributed rf coupling. A short two-cell test prototype structure was designed for the frequency of 5.712 GHz, fabricated, and tested at the C-band Engineering Research Test Facility in New Mexico (CERF-NM) at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The maximum klystron power coupled into the test structure was 8.3 MW with 1 μ s pulse length and 100 Hz repetition rate. The breakdown probabilities were recorded as functions of the accelerating gradient and peak surface fields. Operation of the test cavity at accelerating gradients of up to 100 MV / m was demonstrated. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The eRHIC spin rotator and the beam optics of the 400 MeV transfer line to RCS

The 400 MeV LINAC 1 of the proposed eRHIC collider 1 is the first acceleration stage of the 18 GeV electron accelerator. The second acceleration stage of the electron accelerator is the Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS), which can increase the energy of the electron bunches to 18 GeV and subsequently extract transfer and inject the 18 GeV electron bunches into the 18 GeV electron Storage Ring (SR) to collide with the hadron bunches of the existing (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC)) accelerator. This paper describes the beam optics of the transfer line between the 400 MeV LINAC and the RCS accelerator (LtRCS). The function of the LtRCS line is twofold, first to transfer the electron beam from the exit of the 400 MeV LINAC to the injection point of the RCS 1 and second to rotate the stable spin direction of the polarized electrons from the longitudinal direction to the vertical. A detailed description of the constraints to be satisfied by the LtRCS transfer line will be given. Finally, a section will also be devoted to discuss the spin rotator 2 .

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Beam Profile Measurements Utilizing an Amplitude Modulated Pulsed Fiber Laser at PIP2IT

Fermilab is undertaking the development of a new 800 MeV superconducting RF linac to replace its present normal conducting 400 MeV linac. The PIP-II linac consists of a warm front-end generating 2 mA of 2.1 MeV H⁻ followed immediately by a series of superconducting RF cryomodules to 800 MeV. To limit the potential damage to the superconducting RF cavities, PIP-II will utilize laser-based monitors to obtain beam profiles via photoionization. This paper will present the results of transverse and longitudinal beam profile measurements using a prototype profile monitor that was tested with 2.1 MeV H⁻ beam at the PIP-II Injector Test (PIP2IT) accelerator. This prototype profile monitor utilizes a high repetition rate fiber laser and fiber optic transport into the PIP2IT enclosure. In addition, results will be shown of narrow-band electron detection from amplitude modulated laser pulses.

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Nb3Sn Coating of Twin Axis Cavity for SRF Applications

The twin axis cavity with two identical accelerating beams has been proposed for Energy recovery linac (ERL) applications. Nb3Sn is a superconducting material with a higher critical temperature and a higher critical field as compared to Nb, which promises a lower operating cost due to higher quality factors. Two niobium twin axis cavities fabricated at JLab and were proposed to be coated with Nb3Sn. Due to their more complex geometry, the typical coating process used for basic elliptical cavities needs to be improved to coat these cavities. This devel-opment advances the current coating system at JLab for coating complex cavities. Two twin axis cavities were coated recently for the first time. This contribution dis-cusses initial results from coating of twin axis cavities, RF testing and witness sample analysis with an overview of the current challenges towards high performance Nb3Sn coated twin axis cavities.

Tiskumara, J.↗

Optimization of a High Bunch Charge ERL Injection Merger for PERLE

Delivery of high charge electron bunches into the main loop of an ERL (energy recovery linac) while preserving the emittance is challenging. This is because at the typical injection momentum, space charge forces still have a significant effect on the beam dynamics. In this work we consider the design of the merger for PERLE, an ERL test facility to be based at IJCLab in France. Previous simulations have shown that the baseline DC gun based injector can achieve the required emittance at the booster linac exit. The quality of the 500 pC bunches must then be preserved with space charge through the merger at total beam energy of 7 MeV keeping the emittance below 6 mm mrad. The beam dynamics in the merger were simulated using the code OPAL and optimised using a genetic algorithm. Three possible merger schemes were investigated. The goal of the optimisation was to minimise the emittance growth while also achieving the required Twiss parameters to match onto the spreader at the main linac exit. A three dipole solution is then examined in more detail.

Hounsell, B.↗

Multibunch Studies for LCLS-II High Energy Upgrade

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray free-electron laser at SLAC is being upgraded to LCLS-II with a superconducting linac and 1 MHz bunch repetition rate. The proposed high-energy upgrade (LCLS-II-HE) will increase the beam energy from 4 to 8 GeV, extending the reach of accessible X-ray photon energies. With the increased repetition rate and longer linac of LCLS-II-HE, multi-bunch effects are of greater concern. We use recently introduced capabilities in the beam transport code ELEGANT to study dipole and monopole beam breakup effects for LCLS-II HE beam parameters. The results indicate that resonant dipole kicks have steady-state settle times on the order of 500 bunches or less and appear manageable. We also consider a statistical variation of the cavity frequencies and transverse offsets of cavities and quadrupoles. Resonant emittance growth driven by monopole kicks is found to be disrupted by frequency variation between cavities.

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ACCELERATOR CHALLENGES OF THE LHeC PROJECT

The LHeC project studies the design of a future electron-proton collider at CERN that will run in parallel to the standard LHC operation. For this purpose, the existing LHC storage ring will be combined with an Energy Recovery Linac (ERL), to accelerate electrons up to kinetic energy of 50 GeV. This concept - also applicable to the FCC-eh collider and studied at the PERLE project as prototype version - allows a peak luminosity of 10³⁴ cm⁻² s⁻¹. A sophisticated design of the RF structures, linacs, arcs, and interaction region is required. The electrons are accelerated and, after the interaction point, their energy is recovered through the same RF structures. While this energy recovery concept is a very promising approach, severe challenges are set by the layout of the interaction region, the beam separation concept and the design of the linac and arc lattice for the highest possible momentum acceptance. Emittance control and beam-beam effect of both, electron and proton beams, have been studied in front-to-end simulations and will be presented. We summarise the design principles of the ERL, the optimization of the arc lattice, and the main parameters of the project.

Holzer, B. J.↗

Status of the laser manipulations of H- beam at J-PARC

The laser manipulations of H- ion beam by single or double neutralization is a very promising technique and highly essential to utilized in accelerator processes such as stripping, pulse chopping, collimation, extraction, and beam diagnostics for the present and future high-intensity proton accelerators. At J-PARC, we are preparing for a POP (Proof-of-Principle) demonstration 400 MeV H- stripping by using only lasers. A prototype YAG laser system and a laser cavity system to reduce the laser power are being developed through 3 MeV H- neutralization studies. Fermilab utilizes H- neutralization at 0.75 MeV by establishing a laser Notcher system for a gap in the H- pulse needed for a clean beam extraction from the ring. To minimize the laser power and maximize the interaction efficiency are common issue at both laboratories. Under the US-Japan collaboration for high-intensity neutrino beam, we are closely working to establish recycling/reusing of seed laser pulses to reduce a size of the laser system. In parallel, we have also developed non-destructive beam diagnostic systems at lower H- energy of 3 MeV, which will be implemented to the 400 MeV as well as easily applicable to the Fermilab linac including PIP-II linac. Installation of the laser system at J-PARC linac for 400 MeV H- stripping is ongoing to start the POP experimental study in 2023.

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TRANSFER LEARNING FOR FIELD EMISSION MITIGATION IN CEBAF SRF CAVITIES

The Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Jefferson Lab operates hundreds of super-conducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities in its two linear accelerators (linacs). Field emission (FE) is an ongoing operational challenge in higher gradient SRF cavities. FE generates high levels of neutron and gamma radiation leading to damaged accelerator hardware and a radiation hazard environment. During machine development periods, we performed gradient scans to record data capturing the relationship between cavity gradients and radiation levels measured throughout the linacs. However, the field emission environment at CEBAF varies considerably over time as the configuration of the radio frequency (RF) gradients changes and due to the changing behaviour of field emitters. An artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) approach with transfer learning could be a valuable tool to mitigate FE and lower the radiation levels. In this work, we mainly focus on leveraging the RF trip data gathered during CEBAF operations. We develop a transfer learning-based surrogate model for radiation detector readings given RF cavity gradients to track the CEBAF?s changing configuration and environment. Then, we could use the developed model as an optimization process for redistributing the RF gradients within a linac to minimize radiation levels.

Ahammed, K.↗

ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM BEAMS RESEARCH USING A FREE-ELECTRON LASER OSCILLATOR

We present a Fixed-Field-Alternating (FFA) permanent magnet racetrack electron accelerator with energy range between 10-60 GeV for the future LHeC. Electron beam is brought back to the linac by the single beam line without requiring electric power REDUCING estimated wall power of 100 MW in the present LHeC design to a negligible power for arcs as the permanent magnets are used. The design is based on experience from the very successful commissioning of the Cornell University and Brookhaven National Laboratory Energy Recovery Test Accelerator ? ?CBETA?. The proposal supports sustainability efforts for LHeC by making a 'green' accelerator. It is an energy recovery linac with 99.9% energy efficiency and reduces the power consumption by using small permanent magnets. The FFA non-linear gradient design is a racetrack shape, where, as in the CBETA, the arcs are matched by adiabatic transition to the two (LHeC) or multiple straight sections. Two 10 GeV superconducting linacs are placed on both sides of the Interaction Region (IR) significantly reducing the power of synchrotron radiation loss.

Trbojevic, D.↗

RESONANT MATCHING SECTION FOR CEBAF ENERGY UPGRADE

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jeffer- son Lab) currently studies the feasibility of upgrading its energy to 22 GeV. It considers addition of six more linac passes. The highest energy passes will share two new arcs designed using the Fixed-Field Alternating Gradient (FFA) technology. The FFA arcs are built using permanent combined-function magnets. They will be connected to the linacs through transition sections that will match the optics of all six passes to the linacs. With the high number of con- straints and the limited space available, we are investigating a parametric resonance technique to match the optics quasi- independently at each energy. A resonance is excited at each individual energy to selectively control its optics. The reso- nant dipole and quadrupole kick harmonics are imposed for all energies simultaneously using Panofsky corrector mag- nets placed throughout the FFA arcs. This paper presents the current progress on that transition section design

Deitrick, K.↗

Geant4 Simulations on Faraday Cup Design for PIP-II Laser Wire Scanner System

The Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II) accelerator upgrade at Fermilab represents a groundbreaking leap forward in high-energy physics research. This ambitious initiative involves enhancing Fermilab's accelerator complexby replacing the current linear accelerator (linac) with awarm front end (WFE) capable of accelerating H- beamsup to 2.1 MeV. Subsequently, a superconducting linac further accelerates these beams up to 800 MeV. To preciselymeasure the transverse beam profile, a combination of traditional wire scanners at the WFE section and Laser wirescanners along the superconducting linac are planned forimplementation. This investigation is centered on refiningthe Faraday cup design for the PIP-II Laser wire scannersby utilizing GEANT4, a Monte Carlo simulation toolkit.Leveraging this method enables a comprehensive analysisof particle trajectories, energy deposition, secondary particle emission, backscattering, etc., facilitating optimizationthrough adjustments to cup geometries, materials, andplacement to maximize its efficacy in beam diagnostics.

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Experimental investigation of longitudinal scraping of H- bunches via photo-detachment

Longitudinal emittance growth is a significant challenge in RF linacs, especially for poorly bunched beams. This stems from particles occupying outer synchrotron oscillation orbits in the LBET, causing unwanted bunch-bunch interactions and degraded beam quality. To address this, we proposed using temporally spaced laser pulses to selectively photo-detach electrons from the longitudinal head and tail regions of H- ion bunches. This approach aims to reduce particle density in extreme orbits, enhancing beam uniformity and limiting emittance growth. Our experiments employed Fermilab's 'LaserNotcher' system at the font end of the linac, delivering 1.6 MW peak power with sub-nanosecond precision. By neutralizing the first and last half-nanosecond of several H- bunches, we measured their propagation injection into the booster. Measurements of pulse width, average height, and temporal spacing over booster cycles were compared between the scraped and unscraped bunches. Statistical analysis evaluated the results’ significance, highlighting the feasibility of laser-based scraping for future linac designs to achieve higher beam energies with improved emittance control.

Landon, Parker [Boston U.]↗

Developments Towards FRIB Upgrade to 400 MeV/u for Heaviest Uranium Ions

High-Q₀ medium-velocity (beta opt = 0.6) 5-cell elliptical cavities for superconducting linacs are critical technology for advancing current and future projects such as the Proton Improvement Plan II linac and the proposed energy upgrade of Michigan State University’s Facility For Rare Isotope Beams linac, FRIB400. Previous work established the validity of the novel geometry of the FRIB400 prototype 644 MHz 5-cell elliptical β = 0.65 cavities for future high Q₀ development. In collaboration with FNAL, two leading-edge high-Q₀ recipes, N-doping and Mid-T baking, were tested in the 5-cell format. 2/0 N-doping + cold electropolishing was successful at achieving FRIB400 and PIP-II Q₀ requirements, achieving an unprecedented 3.8 x 10¹⁰ at 17.5 MV/m, satisfying the FRIB400 Q₀ requirements by 1.75 times in a low-gauss environment. Mid-T baking exceeded FRIB400 Q₀ requirements by 1.4 times, and benefitted from decreased residual resistance compared to the N-doped cavity test. Systematic ultrasonic thickness measurements in single-cell revealed bulk (150 microns) EP with the modified EP tool is consistent across the inner surfaces of the cavity walls.

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ERL-Based Compact X-Ray FEL

We propose to develop an energy-recovery-linac (ERL)-based X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). Taking advantage of the demonstrated high-efficiency energy recovery of the beam power in the ERL, the proposed concept offers the following benefits: i) recirculating the electron beam through high-gradient superconducting RF (SRF) cavities shortens the linac, ii) energy recovery in the SRF linac saves the klystron power and reduces the beam dump power, iii) the high average beam power produces a high average photon brightness. In addition, such a concept has the capability of delivering optimized high-brightness CW X-ray FEL performance at different energies with simultaneous multipole sources. In this paper, we will present the preliminary results on the study of feasibility, optics design and parameter optimization of such a device.

Lin, Fanglei↗

The L-CAPE Project at FNAL

The controls system at FNAL records data asynchronously from several thousand Linac devices at their respective cadences, ranging from 15Hz down to once per minute. In case of downtimes, current operations are mostly reactive, investigating the cause of an outage and labeling it after the fact. However, as one of the most upstream systems at the FNAL accelerator complex, the Linac’s foreknowledge of an impending downtime as well as its duration could prompt downstream systems to go into standby, potentially leading to energy savings. The goals of the Linac Condition Anomaly Prediction of Emergence (L-CAPE) project that started in late 2020 are (1) to apply data-analytic methods to improve the information that is available to operators in the control room, and (2) to use machine learning to automate the labeling of outage types as they occur and discover patterns in the data that could lead to the prediction of outages. We present an overview of the challenges in dealing with time-series data from 2000+ devices, our approach to developing an ML-based automated outage labeling system, and the status of augmenting operations by identifying the most likely devices predicting an outage.

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