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In the SPARC photoinjector, the amplified Ti:Sa laser system is conceived to produce an UV flat top pulse profile required to reduce the beam emittance by minimizing the non-linear space charge effects in the photoelectrons pulse. Beam dynamic simulations indicate that the optimal pulse distribution must be flat top in space and time with 10 ps FWHM duration, 1 ps of rise and fall time and a limited ripple on the plateau. In a previous work it was demonstrated the possibility to use a programmable dispersive acousto-optics (AO) filter to achieve pulse profile close to the optimal one. In this paper we report the characterization of the effects of harmonics conversion on the pulse temporal profile. A technique to overcome the harmonics conversion distortions on the laser pulses at the fundamental wavelength in order to obtain the target pulse profile is explained too. Measurements and simulations in the temporal and spectral domain at the fundamental laser wavelength and at the second and third harmonics are presented in order to validate our work. It is also described a time diagnostic device for the UV pulses.© (2007) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The first phase of the SPARX project, now funded by MIUR (Research Department of Italian Government), is an R&D activity focused on developing techniques and critical components for future X-ray FEL facilities. This project is the natural extension of the activities under development within the ongoing SPARC collaboration. The aim is the generation of electron beams characterized by an ultra-high peak brightness with a linear accelerator based on the upgrade of the existing Frascati 800 MeV LINAC and to drive a single pass FEL experiment in the range of 3-5 nm, both in SASE and SEEDED FEL configurations, exploiting the use of superconducting and exotic undulator sections. In this paper we discuss the present status of the collaboration.

SPARC and SPARX are two different initiatives toward an X-ray FEL SASE source at LNF. SPARC is a high gain FEL project devoted to provide a source of visible and VUV radiation while exploiting SASE mechanism. An advanced Photo-Injector system, emittance self-compensating RF-gun plus a 150 MeV Linac, will inject a high quality e-beam into the undulator to generate high brilliance FEL radiation in the visible region at the fundamental wavelength, (530 nm). The production of flat top drive laser beams, high peak current bunches, and an emittance compensation scheme will be investigated together with the generation of higher harmonic radiation in the VUV region. SPARX is the direct evolution of such a high gain SASE FEL towards the 13.5 and 1.5 nm operating wavelengths, at 2.5 GeV. The first phase of the SPARX project, fiinded by Government Agencies, will be focused on R&D activity on critical components and techniques for future X-ray facilities as described in this paper.