Status and Plans for the University of Hawai’i electron linac

Speakers: Asst. Prof. Niels Bidault (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

The electron beam linear accelerator (linac) at the Free Electron Laser (FEL) Laboratory at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is currently undergoing recommissioning. The facility was originally installed and operated under the direction of Prof. John Madey, pioneer of FEL science. The accelerator provides a versatile platform for generating bright electron beams, infrared light from the FEL oscillator, and X-rays via inverse Compton scattering. It is also a unique training ground in a university-based particle accelerator facility.

The injector and S-band linac, ultimately designed to deliver 45 MeV electron beams with high peak current in microsecond pulses, present various technical challenges. Recent efforts include the restoration of the microwave thermionic electron gun and the progressive upgrade of vacuum, RF, and control systems. In parallel, we are developing a start-to-end beam dynamics simulation framework, paving the way for applying ML methods to the accelerator. The objectives are to enable reliable operation and improved electron beam quality, and to predict achievable beam properties to identify experimental opportunities. As the facility approaches restart, we will finally discuss plans to modernize the accelerator to increase the laboratory’s research capacity and capability.

https://indico.phys.hawaii.edu/event/2760/