Laser and rf synchronization measurements at SPARC

The SPARC project consists in a 150 MeV S-band, high-brilliance linac followed by 6 undulators for FEL radiation production at 530 nm. The linac assembly has been recently completed. During year 2006 a first experimental phase aimed at characterizing the beam emittance in the first 2 m drift downstream the RF gun has been carried out. The low level RF control electronics to monitor and synchronize the RF phase in the gun and the laser shot on the photocathode has been commissioned and extensively tested during the emittance measurement campaign. The laser synchronization has been monitored by measuring the phase of the free oscillation of an RF cavity impulsively excited by the signal of a fast photodiode illuminated by the laser shot. Phase stability measurements are reported, both with and without feedback correction of the slow drifts. A fast intra-pulse phase feedback system to reduce the phase noise produced by the RF power station has been also positively tested.