A compact linear accelerator based on a scalable microelectromechanical-system RF-structure

TL;DR

This paper introduces a scalable, compact RF linear accelerator architecture using MEMS fabrication techniques, enabling cost-effective, customizable, high-current particle acceleration with potential for mass production.

Contribution

It presents a novel MEMS-based scalable design for RF accelerators, reducing component size and enabling high parallel beamlet operation for the first time.

Findings

Proof of concept demonstrated with PCB-fabricated RF and ESQ components.

Scalable fabrication approach enables potential for high-current, high-energy accelerators.

Design flexibility allows application-specific beam energy and current customization.

Abstract

A new approach for a compact radio-frequency (RF) accelerator structure is presented. The new accelerator architecture is based on the Multiple Electrostatic Quadrupole Array Linear Accelerator (MEQALAC) structure that was first developed in the 1980s. The MEQALAC utilized RF resonators producing the accelerating fields and providing for higher beam currents through parallel beamlets focused using arrays of electrostatic quadrupoles (ESQs). While the early work obtained ESQs with lateral dimensions on the order of a few centimeters, using printed circuits board (PCB), we reduce the characteristic dimension to the millimeter regime, while massively scaling up the potential number of parallel beamlets. Using Microelectromechanical systems scalable fabrication approaches, we are working on further reducing the characteristic dimension to the sub-millimeter regime. The technology is based on RF-acceleration components and ESQs implemented in PCB or silicon wafers where each beamlet passes through beam apertures in the wafer. The complete accelerator is then assembled by stacking these wafers. This approach has the potential for fast and inexpensive batch fabrication of the components and flexibility in system design for application specific beam energies and currents. For prototyping the accelerator architecture, the components have been fabricated using PCB. In this paper, we present proof of concept results of the principal components using PCB: RF acceleration and ESQ focusing. Ongoing developments on implementing components in silicon and scaling of the accelerator technology to high currents and beam energies are discussed.