Longitudinal Phase Space Reconstruction at FLASHForward Using a Novel Transverse Deflection Cavity, PolariX-TDS

The FLASHForward project at DESY is an innovative beam-driven plasma-wakefield acceleration (PWFA) experiment, aiming to accelerate electron beams to GeV energies over a few centimeters of ionized gas. These accelerated beams are assessed for their capability to drive a free-electron laser. The ultra short, low emittance, and low energy spread properties of bunches produced from certain PWFA injection schemes naturally lend themselves to this task. However, these bunch lengths, typically in the few femtosecond range, are difficult to temporally resolve with traditional diagnostic methods. In order to longitudinally diagnose these bunches it is necessary to utilise the properties of a transverse RF deflecting cavity operating in a high-frequency regime. It is proposed that this type of X-band transverse deflection system, styled the PolariX-TDS due to its novel variable polarisation feature, will be introduced to the FLASHForward beam line in order to perform these single-shot longitudinal phase space measurements. This paper will concern itself with the efficacy of longitudinally reconstructing PWFA-bunches expected at FLASHForward with this TDS, with a focus on the variable bunch properties expected from early commissioning of the experiment