Operation and characterization of a windowless gas jet target in high-intensity electron beams

TL;DR

This paper presents the development and characterization of a cryogenic, windowless gas jet target designed for high-precision electron scattering experiments at high-intensity accelerators, demonstrating its suitability for future research.

Contribution

It introduces a novel cryogenic gas jet target system for high-intensity electron beams, including handling procedures and diagnostic tools, tailored for advanced scattering experiments.

Findings

Successfully operated as an internal target in high-intensity electron beams

Demonstrated compatibility with various gases like hydrogen, helium, and xenon

Proved effective for high-precision electron scattering at high energies

Abstract

A cryogenic supersonic gas jet target was developed for the MAGIX experiment at the high-intensity electron accelerator MESA. It will be operated as an internal, windowless target in the energy-recovering recirculation arc of the accelerator with different target gases, e.g., hydrogen, deuterium, helium, oxygen, argon, or xenon. Detailed studies have been carried out at the existing A1 multi-spectrometer facility at the electron accelerator MAMI. This paper focuses on the developed handling procedures and diagnostic tools, and on the performance of the gas jet target under beam conditions. Considering the special features of this type of target, it proves to be well suited for a new generation of high-precision electron scattering experiments at high-intensity electron accelerators.