Linear accelerator for charged particles, especially for free electron laser, contains switch devices for supplying timed high voltage to transmission lines

摘要

Each pair of accelerator electrodes (13-1-13-6) forms two adjacent transmission lines (1-6). A voltage source (14) is used to generate a voltage of at least 1 MV over a period of 0.1-2 ns at one or more high voltage electrodes (13). A number of switch devices (7-12) corresponding to the number of transmission lines are used to deliver the voltage to these lines and generate an accelerating voltage on these lines over a time period less than 10 ps. A control device (17) is used to operate the switch devices in succession. The pairs of electrodes are separated by accelerating voltage-free spaces. An Independent claim is also included for (a) a switch device with a laser-triggered spark gap comprising two electrodes and a device for linear focusing of a laser beam along a line between these two electrodes, in which the laser is capable of generating laser radiation with a duration less than 100 fs. a system is provided for applying a voltage greater than 1 MV across the electrodes, and a timing device is provided for forming a focused linear beam within 200 ps of applying the voltage, (b) an electrostatic undulator comprising two sets of alternately arranged electrodes with spaces in between for allowing electron beams to pass, a system for applying a voltage greater than 1 MV across the electrodes over a period less than 2 ns, and a timing device for supplying the voltage to the electrode sets during the high voltage duration, and (c) a free electron laser comprising the above electron accelerator and/or electrostatic undulator.