Beam transport issues in high-power x-ray Free Electron Lasers

The project will aim to develop an improved understanding of the issues associated with efficient transport and precision control of high-quality electron beams in high-power x-ray Free Electron Lasers (x-ray FELs). Particle accelerators have enabled many ground-breaking discoveries in science in the past hundred years, and new developments in accelerator design and technology will open unprecedented opportunities for future research. X-ray free electron lasers (x-ray FELs) will allow scientists to observe chemical and biological processes taking place step-by-step, on atomic scales. This could lead to revolutionary progress in the development of novel materials and new medicines. Researchers at the Cockcroft Institute are working on accelerators for the next generation of FELs, involving experimental investigations using test facilities at Daresbury Laboratory, collaborations with overseas facilities, and theoretical studies for future accelerators.
This PhD project will study design options for exciting new machines, to improve the understanding of the behaviour of the high-energy electron beams that are used in FELs. The research will lead to new insights allowing significant improvements in the performance of high-power FELs. The work will include computer modelling of particle beams and, crucially, experimental studies using real accelerators at Daresbury Laboratory, or overseas.