Optimum Frequency and Gradient for the CLIC main linac accelerating structure

Recently the CLIC study has changed the operating frequency and accelerating gradient of the main linac from 30 GHz and 150 MV/m to 12 GHz and 100 MV/m, respectively. This major change of parameters has been driven by the results from a novel main linac optimization procedure. The procedure allows the simultaneous optimization of operating frequency, accelerating gradient, and many other parameters of CLIC main linac. It takes into account both beam dynamics (BD) and high power RF constraints. BD constraints are related to ermittance growth due to short- and long-range transverse wakefields. RF constraints are related to RF breakdown and pulsed surface heating of the accelerating structure. The optimization figure of merit includes the power efficiency, measured as a ratio of luminosity to the input power, as well as a quantity proportional to total cost.