Year
2011
Abstract
High precision accelerator technology is required for the development of tunable, monochromatic gamma-ray sources capable of generating MeV photons with very high brightness. High gradient accelerator technology is capable of producing high brightness electron beams in relatively short lengths. X-band technology has been demonstrated extensively in the development of the Next Linear Collider program at SLAC, and has been adapted for use in a Compton scattering gammaray source at LLNL. Critical components and technologies will be discussed including the use of high repetition rate solid state modulators, XL4 klystrons, SLED-II pulse compression, RF distribution geometries, a novel X-band RF photoinjector, high gradient traveling wave accelerator structures, and linear accelerator design and layout. Selection of beam properties relevant to gamma-ray production will be discussed, especially with respect to future improvements in gammaray brightness and dose specific to nuclear management applications