Synchrotron – physical principles and problems

Z. Pokorna and B. Ruzicka

Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Science,

Kralovopolska 147, 61264 Brno, Czech Republic

ruzicka@isibrno.cz, zuza@isibrno.cz

Keywords: synchrotron, linac, booster, storage ring, synchrotron light

Abstract

This lecture will give an explanation of the basic principles of electron acceleration by means of synchrotron machines.

Synchrotrons are advanced large circular devices that allow charged particles to acquire very high energies of 10⁹ to 10¹² electronvolts. The acceleration is achieved by repeated propelling effects of electrical field and the particle trajectory is guided by magnets. In electron synchrotrons, synchrotron radiation is produced as a by‑product of the electrons’ trajectory being curved. This radiation is highly intensive and it can span from infra-red spectral region to hard x‑ray. It can also be delivered with arbitrary polarization or in the form of a train of ultra-short intensive pulses. This makes synchrotrons an essential tool for cutting-edge experiments in all scientific branches from material science and nanotechnologies to bio-technologies and medicine.

Syllabus of the Lecture

Introduction. Basic principles. A brief history of accelerators. Basic types of accelerators: linear accelerator, cyclotron, synchrocyclotron, betatron, synchrotron.

Basic building blocks. Bending magnets (dipoles), focusing magnets (quadrupoles), sextupoles and correctors. Vacuum chamber and absorbers. RF cavities. Beam diagnostics.

Functional units of the synchrotron. Electron gun. Linac. Transfer lines. Booster synchrotron. Storage ring. Insertion devices, front ends, beamlines, experimental stations.

Special problems of synchrotrons. Timing and Control Systems. Closed orbit correction. Beam instability thresholds. Radiation safety, special demands on civil engineering.

References

1. A. Hofmann, The Physics of Synchrotron Radiation. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2004.

2. H. Wiedemann, Synchrotron Radiation. Berlin: Springer. 2003.

3. Synchrotron Radiation Sources, edited by H. Winnick (Singapore: World Scientific), 1995.

Acknowledgements.

The authors would like to thank, on behalf of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic and the CESLAB Project, to the experts at the ALBA synchrotron facility in Barcelona, Spain, for their kind cooperation and help in many issues. The authors are also thankful to anybody who kindly shared their invaluable experience in the field of synchrotron machine physics.