A Fast Non Intercepting Linac Electron Beam Position and Current Monitor

A non-intercepting beam monitor consisting of four detecting loops is used to determine the spatial postion and current of a pulsed beam from an electron linear accelerator. The monitor detects the magnetic field radiated by the substructure of the electron bunches created by the accelerating microwave.

The detecting loops are interconnected two by two, by means of two coaxial hybrid junctions, the two sets positioned perpendicular to each other. By means of the two signals from the diametrically positioned detecting loops, a good spatial displacement and current monitoring sensitivity are achieved by subtracting one signal from the other and adding the two signals, respectively.

For displacements below 2 mm from the center axis an average sensitivity of 0.5 mV/mm·mA is measured, whereas displacements more than 2 mm yields 1.3 mV / mm·mA. A sensitivity of 0.2 mV / mA in current monitoring is measured, and the rise time of the monitored pulse signal is better than 5 ns measured from 10 to 90% of the pulse height.

Design strategy and performance of the monitor are described.