C. Creutz, H. A. Schwarz and J. F. Wishart
BNL Formal Report BNL-52229, (1989)
Introduction
The Brookhaven National Laboratory Chemistry Department is considering making a request to the Department of Energy for a linear accelerator for radiation chemical studies. The machine being considered is based on a radio-frequency resonant cavity electron gun with a laser-driven photocathode source, similar to the 5 MeV gun developed at the Brookhaven Accelerator Test Facility. The laser can be synchronized with the RF to produce a single bunch of electrons (about 30 ps) containing about 20 nanocoulombs. Shorter pulses can be generated at correspondingly smaller doses. A laser pulse extending over several RF wavelengths can be used to produce longer and more intense electron pulses. This device offers the possibility of an economical machine with the added advantage of a synchronized electron beam and laser beam which can be used for analysis at sub-nanosecond times.A workshop was held at Brookhaven in the Chemistry Department on September 8 and 9, 1989, to determine how much outside user interest there is in such a machine and what support equipment the users would need. About 30 people attended the conference - some from laboratories with pulse radiolysis facilities and others who might be interested in using the new facility. The capabilities of the major existing facilities and a few others in the Eastern U. S. were discussed in detail and are presented in a later section.