Noninvasive Micrometer-Scale Particle-Beam Size Measurement Using Optical Diffraction Radiation in the Ultraviolet Wavelength Range

We present recent achievements in the application of optical diffraction radiation (ODR) to the measurement of the transverse beam size of a 1.3 GeV micrometer-size electron beam performed with an instrument installed in the extended extraction line of the KEK Accelerator Test Facility. ODR is a recent technique for the measurement of the transverse size and emittance of highly relativistic particle beams. ODR has the advantage of being a noninvasive and relatively inexpensive technique and is a candidate for the operation of linear particle accelerators, where no simple alternatives (e.g., synchrotron radiation) are available. In an effort to improve the resolution and performance, we establish an alternative target microfabrication technology, adopt solutions to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and perform an experiment in the UV spectrum at 250 nm. With such a configuration, a transverse beam size as low as $3\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ is measured, drastically improving on past measurements reported in the literature. In light of these results, ODR, when combined with a high-resolution optical-transition-radiation monitor, represents a credible diagnostics solution for low-emittance high-intensity particle beams.