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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 that was being used at the beginning of the summer was inadequate
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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 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
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
Making a Needle Cathode • Straightening Tungsten Wire • Chemically Etching tip of needle • Electron Bombardment