PHIL photoinjector test line

TL;DR

The paper describes the development and capabilities of the PHIL photoinjector test line at LAL, designed for testing photoinjectors, providing electron beams, and training students in accelerator physics.

Contribution

Introduction of the PHIL test line at LAL, enabling photoinjector testing, beam production, and educational opportunities in accelerator physics.

Findings

Successful testing of ALPHAX and PHIN RF Guns.

Provision of low energy, short pulse electron beams.

Facility supports research and student training.

Abstract

LAL is now equiped with its own platform for photoinjectors tests and Research and Developement, named PHIL (PHotoInjectors at LAL). This facility has two main purposes: push the limits of the photoinjectors performances working on both the design and the associated technology and provide a low energy (MeV) short pulses (ps) electron beam for the interested users. Another very important goal of this machine will be to provide an opportunity to form accelerator physics students, working in a high technology environment. To achieve this goal a test line was realised equipped with an RF source, magnets and beam diagnostics. In this article we will desrcibe the PHIL beamline and its characteristics together with the description of the first two photoinjector realised in LAL and tested: the ALPHAX and the PHIN RF Guns.