Final Technical Report: Flexible Low-cost Platform for Beam Pattern Optimization
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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
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FEgen (v.1): Field Emission Distribution Generator Freeware Based on Fowler–Nordheim Equation
This work presents an open-source code, FEgen, that generates initial field emission distributions based on the time-dependent Fowler–Nordheim equation. Current in-demand and open-source beam tracking software—such as ASTRA, IMPACT-T, and GPT—do not contain native distribution generator functions suitable for field emitted electron tracking and phase space analysis. Furthermore, the intuitive graphical user interface of FEgen generates input files shown to be fully compatible with both ASTRA and GPT. Here, detailed application examples demonstrating a subset of FEgen’s capabilities are given by creating a customized emitter pattern with application to transverse beam shaping and longitudinal beam dynamic experiments.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
High power laser hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tools systems and methods
There are provided high power laser perforation, hydraulic fracturing systems, tools and methods for the stimulation and recovery of energy sources, such as hydrocarbons, from a formation. These systems, tools and methods provide predetermined laser beam energy patterns, to provide for the down hole volumetric removal of custom geometries of materials, sealing of perforations, reperforations, refractures and other downhole actives.
42 ENGINEERING↗
Laser-Modulation-Driven X-Ray Pulse Shaping in Regenerative Amplifier Free-Electron Lasers
In this Letter, we present a robust method for generating custom-shaped, coherent hard x-ray pulses in regenerative amplifier free-electron lasers (RAFELs) using laser-induced energy modulation of the electron beam. A temporally shaped optical modulation imprints an optical-wavelength energy pattern on the beam, which interacts with the recirculated seed in the x-ray cavity to generate spectral sidebands. These sidebands lie outside the Bragg reflection bandwidth and are extracted as out-coupled radiation, while the seed is retained for continued amplification, enabling a novel mechanism for both output coupling and pulse shaping. Furthermore, this approach allows deterministic control over the spectral and temporal properties of the emitted x-rays, including multicolor generation, twin-pulse structures, pulse duration tuning, and complex temporal waveforms. Importantly, it does not require modification of the RAFEL cavity or optics and is fully compatible with high-repetition-rate operation, offering a practical pathway to deliver coherent, shaped, and on-demand x-ray pulses for advanced time-resolved and nonlinear x-ray science.
Free-electron lasers↗
Wehnelt photoemission in an ultrafast electron microscope: Stability and usability
We tested and compared the stability and usability of three different cathode materials and configurations in a thermionic-based ultrafast electron microscope: (1) on-axis thermionic and photoemission from a custom 100 μm diameter LaB 6 source with a graphite guard ring, (2) off-axis photoemission from the Ni aperture surface of the Wehnelt electrode, and (3) on-axis thermionic and photoemission from a custom 200 μm diameter polycrystalline Ta source. For each cathode type and configuration, including the Ni Wehnelt aperture, we illustrate how the photoelectron beam-current stability is deleteriously impacted by simultaneous cooling of the source following thermionic heating. Furthermore, we demonstrate usability via collection of parallel- and convergent-beam electron diffraction patterns and by formation of the optimum probe size. We find that usability of the off-axis Ni Wehnelt-aperture photoemission is at least comparable to on-axis LaB 6 thermionic emission, as well as to on-axis photoemission [the heretofore conventional approach to ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM) in thermionic-based instruments]. However, the stability and achievable beam currents for off-axis photoemission from the Wehnelt aperture were superior to that of the other cathode types and configurations, regardless of the electron-emission mechanism. Beam-current stability for this configuration was found to be ±1% (one standard deviation from the mean) for 70 min (longest duration tested), and steady-state beam current was reached within the sampling-time resolution used here (~1 s) for 15 pA beam currents (i.e., 460 electrons per packet for a 200 kHz repetition rate). Repeatability and robustness of the steady-state condition were also found to be within ±1% of the mean. We discuss the implications of these findings for UEM imaging and diffraction experiments, for pulsed-beam damage measurements, and for practical switching between optimum conventional TEM and UEM operation within the same instrument.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Nickel-based superalloy single crystals fabricated via electron beam melting
Additive manufacturing technologies have emerged as potential disruptive processes whose possible impacts range from supply chain logistics, prototyping, and novel materials synthesis. Numerous works illustrate the ability to control mi- crostructure in fusion based processes and a few recent authors have even produced single crystals. However, a number of open questions remain regarding the process window which enables printing of single crystals. Furthermore, it has been observed that these additively manufactured single crystals exhibit a preferred $\langle$011$\rangle$ secondary orientation. In this work we investigate fabrication conditions which enable printing of single crystals via electron beam melting. A space filling design of experiments is utilized to efficiently explore the fabrication space. Single crystals were success- fully obtained using both commercially available powders and custom melt alloys. Microstructures obtained via these exploratory experiments exhibited a continuum of columnar structures ranging from weakly textured polycrystals, near single crystal, and fully single crystalline material. Complex geometry experiments are performed to study the grain selection mechanism. We find that the grain selection mechanism is independent of the bulk scale geometry and must therefore by driven by local heat transfer and solidification dynamics. Furthermore, grain selection is shown to be driven by competing driving forces; one which prefers epitaxial growth and another which is driven by the imposed scan pattern geometry. Finally, a mechanism is proposed for the anomalous secondary orientation preference.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
First Performance Results of the PIP2IT MEBT 200 Ohm Kicker Prototype
The PIP-II project is a program to upgrade the Fermilab accelerator complex. The PIP-II linac includes a 2.1 MeV Medium Energy Beam Transport (MEBT) section that incorporates a unique chopping system to perform arbitrary, bunch-by-bunch removal of 162.5 MHz structured beam. The MEBT chopping system will consist of two identical kickers working together and a beam absorber. One design of two having been proposed has been a 200 Ohm characteristic impedance traveling wave dual-helix kicker driven with custom designed high-speed switches. This paper reports on the first performance results of one prototype kicker built, installed and tested with beam at the PIP-II Injector Test (PIP2IT) facility. The helix deflector design details are discussed. The electrical performance of the high-speed switch driver operating at 500 V bias is presented. Tests performed were chopping beam at 81.25 MHz for microseconds as well as with a truly arbitrary pattern for 550 $\mu$s bursts having a 45 MHz average switching rate and repeating at 20 Hz.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
CEBAF Photo Gun RF System
During the CEBAF 12 GeV Upgrade at Jefferson Lab, a fourth experimental hall, ?D?, was added to the existing three halls. To produce four beams and deliver them to all halls concurrently requires new frequencies and a new timing pattern of the electron bunches. Since a photo-gun is used to produce electron bunches, the gun?s drive laser pulses need to be synchronized with the required bunch rate frequencies of 499 MHz or 249.5 MHz. To meet these new operational requirements, the new LLRF system has been proposed. Very specific requirements (dual frequency operation) on one side and the simple RF drive mode operation on the other imply the use of a commercial off-the-shelf digital platform rather than a system typical for RF cavity field control. We have chosen the Texas Instruments FPGA board along with a high-speed 8-Channel, 14-Bit board, and a 4-Channel, 16-Bit board. The DAC board includes the clock generator for clocking ADCs, DACs and the FPGA. The only custom design section of the system is the RF Front End board. The complete Gun Laser LLRF system has been designed, built, and recently commissioned in the CEBAF Injector. This paper will detail the design and report on commissioning activities.
Plawski, Tomasz↗
Advanced FIB-based Preparation of Cryogenically-prepared Specimens for APT Analysis
The utilization of the focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) has aided the application of Atom Probe Tomography (APT) to a continually-growing variety of materials, including soft biological materials. However, the regular application of APT to hydrated interfaces such as those found in biological and environmental materials is lacking in large part due to difficulties in specimen preparation under high and ultra-high vacuum conditions. Although a FIB-SEM based cryogenic specimen preparation approach offers a rational route to the preparation of such specimens for APT analysis, many practical aspects such as welding and limitations in the cryo stage manipulation makes it challenging for routine liftout of site-targeted specimens. In this work, we describe our recent efforts in the development of a site-specific liftout and attachment scheme for cryogenically cooled specimens involving a combination of redeposition and overcoating of organic and organometallic molecules, as shown in Fig. 1a-d for a cryogenically-frozen corroded glass sample containing a hydrated porous gel surface layer. Application of an annular milling pattern to the frozen specimens leads to a needle-shaped morphology necessary for APT analysis with the targeted water-ice filled porous corroded silicate glass region of interest near the apex. Using a custom shuttle device and environmental transfer hub at PNNL to facilitate environmentally-protected specimen transfer, APT analysis was applied to directly map, for the first time, a water/solid interface in 3D to reveal the complex nanoscale water-filled porous network of corroded glass. Application of this unique specimen preparation approach to biological specimens will also be discussed, as well as the application of a unique cryo nanomaniupulator with integrated gas injection system to enable controlled FIB-based welding under cryogenic temperatures.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗