A novel scaling law relating the geometrical dimensions of a photocathode radio frequency gun to its radio frequency properties

Abstract

Developing a photocathode RF gun with the desired RF properties of the π-mode, such as field balance (e(b)) ~1, resonant frequency f(π) = 2856 MHz, and waveguide-to-cavity coupling coefficient β(π) ~1, requires precise tuning of the resonant frequencies of the independent full- and half-cells (f(f) and f(h)), and of the waveguide-to-full-cell coupling coefficient (β(f)). While contemporary electromagnetic codes and precision machining capability have made it possible to design and tune independent cells of a photocathode RF gun for desired RF properties, thereby eliminating the need for tuning, access to such computational resources and quality of machining is not very widespread. Therefore, many such structures require tuning after machining by employing conventional tuning techniques that are iterative in nature. Any procedure that improves understanding of the tuning process and consequently reduces the number of iterations and the associated risks in tuning a photocathode gun would, therefore, be useful. In this paper, we discuss a method devised by us to tune a photocathode RF gun for desired RF properties under operating conditions. We develop and employ a simple scaling law that accounts for inter-dependence between frequency of independent cells and waveguide-to-cavity coupling coefficient, and the effect of brazing clearance for joining of the two cells. The method has been employed to successfully develop multiple 1.6 cell BNL∕SLAC/UCLA type S-band photocathode RF guns with the desired RF properties, without the need to tune them by a tiresome cut-and-measure process. Our analysis also provides a physical insight into how the geometrical dimensions affect the RF properties of the photo-cathode RF gun.