The development of S-band plane wave transformer photoinjector

An integrated S-band RF photoinjector based on the plane wave transformer (PWT) is being built in the Particle Beam Physics Laboratory at UCLA in collaboration with DULY Research. This novel structure integrates a photocathode directly into a PWT linac making the structure simple and compact. Due to the strong coupling between each adjacent cell, this structure is relatively easy to fabricate and operate. This photoinjector can provide high brightness beams at energies of 15 to 20 MeV, with emittance less than 1 mm-mrad at charge of 1 nC. These short-pulse beams can be used in various applications: space charge dominated beam physics studies, plasma lenses, plasma accelerators, free-electron laser microbunching techniques, and SASEFEL physics studies. It will also provide commercial opportunities in chemistry, biology and medicine. The present status of the PWT photoinjector including fabrication and cold test to characterise the structure is described. RF system and photocathode drive laser system are also discussed.