Exploring Beam-Wave Interactions in Pursuit of Next Generation Accelerators

SPEAKER:
EMILIO NANNI
DATE/TIME:
MON, 02/11/2019 – 4:00PM TO 5:00PM
LOCATION:
3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL
Spring 2019 Colloquium Series
Abstract:

Accelerators ranging from midscale RF photoinjectors for femtosecond electron-diffraction
experiments, to kilometer long x-ray free electron lasers that produce femtosecond x-ray pulses
are utilized to resolve materials with atomic precision on femtosecond timescales. While the
performance and recent results of these facilities are extraordinary, ensuring their continued
vitality requires us to explore new accelerator physics and innovate the next generation of
technology. One approach to achieving performance and accelerating gradients orders of
magnitude above present capabilities is to dramatically increase the operational frequency into
the Terahertz (THz) range. We are exploring accelerating structures designed to withstand high
gradients and able to manipulate high-charge beams on femtosecond timescales; developing
novel electronic and photonic THz sources; and laying the foundation for THz accelerator
technology. Results from recent experiments on THz accelerators will be presented, along with
future outlook and impact in related fields from spectroscopy to communications.

About the Speaker:

Emilio Nanni received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 2013. He joined SLAC
National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University in 2015; his research is focused high
power, high-frequency vacuum electron devices; optical THz amplifiers; electron-beam
dynamics; advanced accelerator concepts; and compact, efficient accelerator systems. Prior to
joining SLAC, he completed his postdoc at MIT with a joint appointment in the Nuclear Reactor
Lab and the Research Laboratory for Electronics at MIT where he participated in the
demonstration of the first acceleration of electrons with optically generated THz pulses. He
completed his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
2013 where he worked on high-frequency high-power THz sources and the development of
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometers using Dynamic Nuclear Polarization.