NEW PHOTON BPM SETUP USING SiC DEVICES IN PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MODE

Photon beam position monitors (pBPMs) are essential diagnostic tools in synchrotron light sources, providing realtime information on photon beam stability and trajectory. Conventional designs, including photoemission blades and diamond detectors, face limitations at fourth-generation facilities, where beams exhibit sub-micron dimensions, high brilliance, and impose severe thermal loads. We present a novel pBPM concept based on intrinsic silicon carbide (SiC) sensors operated in photoconductive mode. A sensor matrix, integrated near the beamline collimator, enables distinct detection of bending-magnet (BM) and insertion-device (ID) radiation. Initial tests at Elettra demonstrate micron sensitivity, effective BM/ID separation, and real-time discrimination between positional drifts and intensity fluctuations. These results establish SiC photoconductive devices as promising candidates for next-generation photon diagnostics.