JLab, Newport News, Virginia, USA
Dual-Mode Excitation, also referred to as mode-mixing, is a superposition of two pi modes in an SRF cavity. In 9-cell TESLA cavities used for the LCLSII-HE project, the two modes that are commonly excited are the pi mode (1300.2 MHz), and the 7/9 pi mode (1297.8 MHz). During vertical cavity qualification testing, it is regularly observed that emitted power at the frequency of the 7/9 pi mode grows, despite the RF system only driving the pi mode. When this happens, the RF power measurement system is unable to differentiate between the superimposed modes which invalidates any data taken. A new RF control solution prevents the 7/9 pi mode from being excited. A second RF control system is connected to drive the 7/9 pi mode. The loop phase for driving this mode is determined, then shifted by 180 degrees, thus providing a negative feedback to the undesired mode. Because this off-resonance power can be very small, it does not interfere with the high-power measurements of the fundamental pi mode. At Jefferson Lab, we are now able to test a cavity for the LCLSII-HE project with no complications from mode-mixing, which allows for CW processing of high-gradient multipacting.
