The upgraded photocathode laser of the TESLA Test Facility

This paper describes the photocathode laser of the TESLA Test Facility (TTF). The laser system generates trains of ultraviolet picosecond pulses with 262 nm wavelength. Special measures were required to allow for stable and reliable generation of these pulse trains that are up to 800 μs long and can contain up to 800 micropulses at 1 MHz repetition rate, alternatively, up to 2400 micropulses at 3 MHz repetition rate within the train. The duration of the individual micropulses is 11 ps FWHM (σ∼4.5 ps). In the 1 MHz mode the micropulse energy at 262 nm wavelength reaches 54 μJ. Laser pulses are generated synchronously to the RF system of the TTF-2 linear accelerators (linac) with synchronization accuracy better than 1 ps. The laser is able to run at 10 Hz repetition rate with full remote control. It illuminates the photocathode of an RF gun to generate the electron bunches which are subsequently accelerated in the TTF linac.