Investigating Radio Frequency Photocathode Electron Sources

The goal of the virtual CERN summer student project was to learn about radio frequency electron sources. It was proposed to study an RF photocathode electron gun which could be used for the CLEAR or AWAKE experiments at CERN. This electron gun beam line is a 1.5 m long with a 3 GHz, 120 MV/m, 1.5 cell, standing wave cavity. The goal of the summer project is to learn about electron sources by investigating beam diagnostics of a simulated beam as it emerges from the electron gun cavity in order to predict measurable characteristics of the beam later on in further accelerating structures, as well as discover optimal conditions for operating the electron gun.