Development Of A Superconducting Helical Undulator For A Polarised Positron Source

A method of producing a polarised positron beam from e(+)e(-) pair production in a target by circularly polarised gamma-radiation is being investigated. Polarised photons are to be generated by the passage of a high energy electron beam (250 GeV as anticipated in the International Linear Collider - ILC) through a helical undulator. For production of 20 MeV photons, an undulator with a period of 14 mm, a bore of approximately 4 mm and magnetic field on axis of 0.8 T is required. First prototypes have been constructed using both superconducting and permanent magnet technologies which are capable of producing the necessary magnetic field configuration in the undulator. This paper details the design, construction techniques and field measurement results of the first superconducting prototype and compares the results with simulation.