The Argonne Wakefield Accelerator Facility: Status and Recent Activities

We describe the Argonne Wakefield Accelerator Facility (AWA), pointing out its present capabilities and goals. We present recent measurements on beam loading observed in our photocathode RF gun. Wakefield measurements in dielectric loaded structures are also reported. Our most recent wakefield structure operates at 15 GHz, and has been excited by single electron bunches and also by sets of two closely spaced bunches. When driven by 43 nC bunches, the accelerating gradient in this structure reached 23 MV/m. No signs of electric breakdown have been observed. This report ends with a brief discussion on the next activities to take place at the AWA facility.