Characterization of the electron beam visualization stations of the ThomX accelerator

Abstract We present an overview of the diagnostics screens stations - named SSTs - of the ThomX compact Compton source. ThomX is a compact light source based on Compton backscattering. It features a linac and a storage ring in which the electrons have an energy of 50 MeV. Each SST is composed of three screens, a YAG:Ce screen and an Optical Transition Radiation (OTR) screen for transverse measurements and a calibration target for magnification and resolution characterisation. The optical system is based on commercial lenses that have been reverse-engineered. An Arduino is used to control both the aperture and the focus remotely, while the magnification must be modified using an external motor. We report on the overall performance of the station as measured during the first steps of beam commissioning and on the optical system remote operations.