Start-Up of the DC-Photoinjector Prototype (up to 400 keV) in the Transmission Photocathode Operation Mode

A prototype of a direct-current photoinjector (DC) with an electron energy of up to 400 keV is being developed at JINR for future electron accelerators (electron-positron colliders and free-electron lasers). This article describes the injector, one distinctive feature of which is the use of the transmission photocathode operation mode. A unique laser system is implemented on the photoinjector. The system makes it possible to synchronize the repetition rate and the phase of the laser pulses (of 10 ps duration, 262 nm wavelength, and 1.85 μJ energy) with the frequency of the accelerator RF system. The first experimental results of a DC photoinjector are presented and further plans for the development of the installation are discussed.