Building an Electron Accelerator for Use in a Free-Electron Laser by Daniel P. Mills
Why am I Building this? The electron accelerator is the first step in the free-electron laser system The electron accelerator is the first step in the free-electron laser system The electron accelerator that was being used at the beginning of the summer was inadequate The electron accelerator that was being used at the beginning of the summer was inadequate With the electron accelerator, field emission will be able to be created and the current will be measured With the electron accelerator, field emission will be able to be created and the current will be measured
What is a Free-Electron Laser? A free-electron laser (FEL) is a laser that takes energy from an electron beam, not from excited atoms An FEL works by first accelerating the electron beam, and then causing the electrons to oscillate and then spontaneously emit photons
What went on in the lab? Rebuild the Electron Accelerator Develop the Computer-Based Instrumentation Get working Needle Cathode Tips
The Rebuilding Process Designing Parts – Visio Ordering Pieces Making Parts – Machine Shop
What was Made? Cathode Holder and Cathode sheath Anode Heater System
Computer-Based Instrumentation All computer-based instrumentation was done exclusively in LabVIEW LabVIEW runs the motion controls, monitors the temperatures, and measures the voltage and current in our system
Glassman Power Supply
Cathodes: How do they Work?
Making a Needle Cathode Straightening Tungsten Wire Chemically Etching tip of needle Electron Bombardment
Cathode Tips
Where We Were
Where We Are Now
Where do we go from here?