Fast phase switching within the bunch train of the PHIN photo-injector at CERN using fiber-optic modulators on the drive laser

The future Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) e^-/e^+ collider is based on the two-beam acceleration concept, whereby interleaving electron bunches of the drive beam through a delay loop and combiner rings as well as high peak RF power at 12GHz are created locally to accelerate a second beam, the main beam. One of the main objectives of the currently operational CLIC Test Facility (CTF3) is to demonstrate beam combination from 1.5GHz to 12GHz, which requires satellite-free fast phase-switching of the drive beam with sub-ns speed. The PHIN photo-injector, with the photo-injector laser, provides flexibility in the time structure of the electron bunches produced, by direct manipulation of the laser pulses. A novel fiber modulator-based phase-switching technique allows clean and fast phase-switch at 1.5GHz. This paper describes the switching system based on fiber-optic modulators, and the measurements carried out on both the laser and the electron beam to verify the scheme.