First operation of the superconducting Darmstadt linear electron accelerator as an energy recovery linac

Abstract

The superconducting Darmstadt linear electron accelerator (S-DALINAC) has been operated as an energy recovery linac (ERL) for the first time. The S-DALINAC is a recirculating superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) accelerator and had been upgraded with an additional recirculation beamline. It features a path length adjustment system that provides a freedom of choice of 360° for the rf phase difference between the electron bunches recirculated through the new beamline and the phase of the accelerating TM_{010} mode of the oscillating electromagnetic field in the SRF cavities of the accelerator. A choice of around 180° for this phase difference results in a deceleration of the recirculated beam and a corresponding transfer of the particles’ kinetic energy back to the energy of the electromagnetic field in the cavities. The main components relevant for ERL operation are described and data of the first operation as an SRF-ERL are presented.