Experimental verification of space-charge saturation scaling laws in high-gradient photocathode RF guns

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Denham, Paul, Garcia, David, Kulkarni, Atharva, Schaap, Brian, Liu, Ziteng, Musumeci, Pietro, Filippetto, Daniele
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Denham, Paul
Garcia, David
Kulkarni, Atharva
Schaap, Brian
Liu, Ziteng
Musumeci, Pietro
Filippetto, Daniele
author_facet Denham, Paul
Garcia, David
Kulkarni, Atharva
Schaap, Brian
Liu, Ziteng
Musumeci, Pietro
Filippetto, Daniele
contents We investigate the limits of photoemission yield in a high-gradient S-band radiofrequency photoinjector in the space-charge-dominated regime. Using an RF phase-scan technique, where the emitted charge is measured as a function of the RF-field phase in the gun, we directly monitor photoemission over a range of launch fields and laser parameters, enabling quantitative characterization of space-charge saturation. Measurements, supported by simulations and analytic modeling, confirm the characteristic charge-field scaling laws for pancake beams and provide the first experimental verification of cigar-regime scaling in an RF photogun. These results establish a predictive framework for identifying the onset of space-charge saturation and guide the optimization of photoinjectors for ultrafast electron diffraction, microscopy, and high-brightness light sources operating at ultra-high gradients.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_02035
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Experimental verification of space-charge saturation scaling laws in high-gradient photocathode RF guns
Denham, Paul
Garcia, David
Kulkarni, Atharva
Schaap, Brian
Liu, Ziteng
Musumeci, Pietro
Filippetto, Daniele
Accelerator Physics
We investigate the limits of photoemission yield in a high-gradient S-band radiofrequency photoinjector in the space-charge-dominated regime. Using an RF phase-scan technique, where the emitted charge is measured as a function of the RF-field phase in the gun, we directly monitor photoemission over a range of launch fields and laser parameters, enabling quantitative characterization of space-charge saturation. Measurements, supported by simulations and analytic modeling, confirm the characteristic charge-field scaling laws for pancake beams and provide the first experimental verification of cigar-regime scaling in an RF photogun. These results establish a predictive framework for identifying the onset of space-charge saturation and guide the optimization of photoinjectors for ultrafast electron diffraction, microscopy, and high-brightness light sources operating at ultra-high gradients.
title Experimental verification of space-charge saturation scaling laws in high-gradient photocathode RF guns
topic Accelerator Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.02035