Development of a RF-system for the AWAKE-Run2 project

The plasma wake-field accelerator AWAKE at CERN is entering a second development phase in which the electron line will be redefined.

The current electron source, based on a S-band photoinjector and S-band accelerating structure, will be used for the seeding of the self-modulation of the proton beam. A new electron source and electron line, powered by X-band and S-band klystrons, will be developed. Electrons produced by this source will be accelerated by plasma wake-fields.

We propose to contribute to the studies of the AWAKE electron injectors by designing and evaluating a prototype RF system consisting of a system of klystrons with a solid-state power amplifier to drive them.

The definition, development, and build-up of the prototype system (including waveguides, pulse compressors, circulators) to power the RF guns, buncher and accelerating structures will be part of this project.

Considering the limit space and accessibility of the AWAKE area a detailed integration work and reliability tests will be needed.With this project, we will take advantage of the knowledge and experience developed at the FREIA laboratory (Uppsala) concerning the RF, control, and low-level RF systems and the recent development on solid-state power amplifiers used as a klystron’s driver.

This work will be carried out within the AWAKE collaboration at CERN (Switzerland) and will involve ScandiNova (Uppsala) for the development and integration of X-band/S-band RF units.