The stripline kicker prototype for the clic damping rings at alba: installation, commissioning and beam characterisation

The extraction system for the CLIC Damping Rings has very tight specifications. Therefore a full characterisation of the behaviour of the stripline kicker under conditions as close as possible to the expected working conditions will be very valuable. To that end the CLIC stripline has been installed in the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source to be characterised with beam. Prior to its installation, the effect of the stripline kicker on the machine impedance has been assessed. The installation has required the design of an absorber to screen the electrodes of the stripline from synchrotron radiation and additional BPMs have been installed for a better kick angle determination. The commissioning of the stripline with beam has been performed following closely beam parameters, pressure and temperature. The studies with beam include the determination of the longitudinal and transverse impedance of the kicker, the field homogeneity when excited with a DC field and the field ripple when pulsed. This contribution reports on the first experience with the stripline kicker for the CLIC DR in the ALBA storage ring and presents the results of the initial beam characterisation.