CLIC crab cavity design optimisation for maximum luminosity

The bunch size and crossing angle planned for CERN's compact linear collider CLIC dictate that crab cavities on opposing linacs will be needed to rotate bunches of particles into alignment at the interaction point if the desired luminosity is to be achieved. Wakefield effects, RF phase errors between crab cavities on opposing linacs and unpredictable beam loading can each act to reduce luminosity below that anticipated for bunches colliding in perfect alignment. Unlike acceleration cavities, which are normally optimised for gradient, crab cavities must be optimised primarily for luminosity. Accepting the crab cavity technology choice of a 12 GHz, normal conducting, travelling wave structure as explained in the text, this paper develops an analytical approach to optimise cell number and iris diameter.

► Crab cavity requirement specification for CERN's compact linear collider (CLIC).
► Design choices for the crab cavities and their RF distribution system.
► Influence of wakefields, power availability and surface fields on design optimisation.
► Optimisation of crab cavity design for maximum luminosity.