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DOE OSTI2023

Simulations Supporting the Development of Northstar's Indirect Beam Parameters Monitoring System

NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC is planning to produce the important medical radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the parent of technetium-99m (Tc-99m), through photonuclear reactions in molybdenum-100 (Mo-100). In this approach, a target comprising multiple thin disks of enriched molybdenum metal is bombarded with a 40-MeV electron beam. Electrons impinged on the molybdenum target produce bremsstrahlung X-rays that cause the nuclear reaction. Because enriched Mo-100 is expensive, there is a desire to utilize as much beam power as possible to achieve maximum production yield and minimize the size of the target. This requirement leads to very high beam power density (and heat deposition in the target), which creates challenging requirements for the cooling of the target. The critical part of the target is the target window. It separates the high-pressure helium cooled target from the vacuum beamline and the subject of structural and thermal stress. The temperature of the target window is proportional to the energy density deposited by the beam, so it is critical to maintain the desired beam profile on the target window. The feasibility of indirectly monitoring the maximum energy density of the beam on the beam window through beam losses at the main collimator (Collimator) before the production target was verified. A model of the NorthStar beam transport line was constructed for this purpose using MAD-X and Tao/Bmad codes. Beam optics were computed for the standard operational scenario, followed by an investigation involving approximately 400 cases with parameter variations in the last tuning quadrupoles. This was done to assess the correlation between losses in the collimator and the peak energy density on the target. We developed a model to explore the potential application of Optical transition radiation (OTR) for controlling beam parameters in the NorthStar beam delivery system. This model was based on a generic formula derived from the fundamental solution of the inhomogeneous wave equation of the vector potential, and allowed us to consider various surfaces, even those with irregular or random features, using numerical integration. We applied the model to OTR generated by relativistic electrons impacting an Inconel® 718 beam window. We examined cases with different levels of the window’s surface roughness, ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 microns of root square mean (RMS) deviation. The results of the OTR simulations provided distributions of OTR photons that can be used to study the limitations of optical systems for controlling beam parameters.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Demonstration of a code coupling framework for modeling beam-collimator impacts in the advanced photon source

The high-brightness beams being produced in current and future accelerators present new machine protection concerns with the potential for high-energy-density (HED) conditions ( >100 J/mm 3 ) in beam-intercepting components. Simulating HED conditions in accelerators requires utilizing a suite of physics codes for particle dynamics, particle-matter interactions, and hydrodynamics. This paper describes a method of coupling the codes elegant, fluka, and flash to simulate the effects of a rapid beam loss in the advanced photon source storage ring and the resulting interaction of the beam and collimators. This paper expands previous work [J. Dooling et al., Collimator irradiation studies at the advanced photon source, in Proceedings of the IBIC-2023 (2023), pp. 245–249] by introducing a definition of the evolving geometry of the collimator surface as well as providing methods for simulating the absorption of synchrotron radiation and tracking shower particles produced during beam strikes. We demonstrate this framework by simulating machine conditions of the APS ring before and after its recent upgrade. Simulation results are compared with observed damage to collimators and test samples taken from the APS ring.

Accelerator/storage ring control systems↗

DOE OSTI2024

Shortened Booster Bunch Lengths

Booster typically produces beam bunches that have a phase space profile with a low momentum spread but high time spread, correlating to longer bunch lengths. The goal of this study is to produce beam bunches that have a phase space profile with a high momentum spread but low time spread or narrow bunch lengths. This can be achieved by slowly increasing the RF cavities amplitudes (Adiabatic Excitation) or by oscillating the amplitudes (Quadratic Bunch Rotation, QBR) until the desired bunch lengths are achieved. Results show that when shortening the bunches using QBR, it showed the bunches had a length of 0.6ns (within 1 sigma) but beam losses were being incurred in the 8 GeV line which were a result of beam dispersion.

Abdelhamid, Maan↗

DOE OSTI2024

Shortened Booster Bunch Lengths

Abdelhamid, Maan↗

DOE OSTI2026

Optics and Systems Design of the Ring-to-Second Target Transport Beam-Line for the SNS Second Target Station

The Second Target Station (STS) project at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is being developed to provide world-leading cold neutron brightness for next-generation neutron scattering experiments. The STS Accelerator Systems (AS) scope includes the design and implementation of the Ring-to-Second Target (RTST) proton beam transport line, which extracts 1.3 GeV proton beam pulses from the existing Ring-to-Beam Transport (RTBT) system and delivers them to the STS target. The RTST design emphasizes operational reliability [high reliability], low activation [minimum activation of components and the tunnel], maintainability, and compatibility with existing SNS infrastructure through extensive reuse of proven RTBT systems and components. The beamline includes a new extraction region, a transport lattice consisting of dipole, quadrupole, and corrector magnets, beam instrumentation systems, vacuum systems, personnel protection systems, and radiation shielding systems. Beam optics and particle tracking studies were performed using PyORBIT to validate extraction trajectories, beam transport, and target beam spot requirements [60–90 cm² beam spot area]. This paper presents the optics design philosophy, extraction system architecture, transport lattice design, instrumentation strategy, vacuum system approach, and radiation protection integration for the RTST beamline. Particle tracking simulations indicate successful beam transport without beam loss under nominal operating conditions. The RTST is designed to transport 1.3 GeV proton beam pulses at repetition rates up to 15 Hz, delivering nominal beam power of 700 kW to the Second Target Station.

Baron, Alex [ORNL]↗

DOE OSTI2024

Preliminary results of the 2023 International Fermilab Booster Studies

Here, an overview is given of the methods and preliminary results from dedicated beam studies on three topics conducted over five days in July 2023. In the first study, the Fermilab Booster magnets were held constant at magnetic fields corresponding to the injection energy. The beam loss and emittance growth were observed under varying intensity, tunes, and sextupole resonances. The corresponding beam conditions were also simulated with the MADX-SC code [1]. In the second study, measurements of the vertical half-integer resonance and correction methods are conducted for high-intensity beams ramping in the Booster. Finally, syncho-betatron instabilities are observed during transition-crossing in the Booster under strong space-charge conditions.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Status of the Spallation Neutron Source beam test facility and progress of beam dynamics studies

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Beam Test Facility (BTF) supports the study of beam dynamics in the front end of a high power LINAC. The BTF combines a replica of the SNS front end, including nearly-identical ion source, RFQ and MEBT, with extensive phase space diagnostics and a FODO transport line. Diagnostic capabilities include direct measurement of 6D phase space distribution and detection of halo distributions to a sensitivity of greater than one part-per-million. The goal of on-going BTF studies is to demonstrate accurate particle-in-cell modeling of halo growth and evolution by leveraging unprecedented accuracy in the description of the initial beam distribution. This work is motivated by operational experience at the SNS, which currently operates with beam loss that cannot be described by any model. This paper summarizes progress in the BTF beam study program as well as diagnostics development and recent upgrades to the beamline configuration.

Ruisard, Kiersten↗

DOE OSTI2026

Machine-Protection System for the PIP-II Linear Accelerator: Architecture and Data Processing Schemes

PIP-II at Fermilab features a brand-new, 800 MeV leading-edge Linear Accelerator (Linac) that will enable the Fermilab complex to deliver more than a megawatt of beam power to the Long Base-line Neutrino Facility (LBNF), requiring a robust Machine Protection System (MPS) to prevent beam-induced damage to delicate cryomodules and vacuum components. Signals in various accelerator components, in both analog and digital format, are collected and processed to assest the operating conditions of the accelerator. In the situation a potential damage is foreseen, the beam permit signal will be drop. A critical element of this system is the fast Analog Machine Protection System, a high-bandwidth platform designed for real-time beam loss monitoring. The system utilizes a modular, FPGA-based architecture to digitize signals from beam-sensing devices, such as AC Current Transformers (ACCTs), non-invasive Ring Pickups (RPUs) and beam scrapers. To eliminate both high frequency as well as 60 Hz noise that might be picked up in the industrial environment, data processing schemes beyond regular digital filtering are planned and implemented.

Wu, Jinyuan [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000344329521)↗

DOE OSTI2025

Reinforcement Learning for In-Spill Optimization of the Mu2e Resonant Extraction: Compensating Non-Stationarity

We present design considerations and challenges for the fast machine learning component of a third-order resonant beam extraction regulation system being commissioned to deliver steady beam rates to the mu2e experiment at Fermilab. Dedicated quadrupoles drive the tune toward the 29/3 resonance each spill, extracting beam at kV multiwire septa. The overall Spill Regulation System consists of (1) a “slow” process using ~100-spill averages to adjust the base quad ramp infrequently, (2) a feedforward harmonic content compensator, and (3) the “fast” ML agent reacting during each ongoing spill with on-the-fly additive corrections to the sum of (1) and (2). We have demonstrated improved beam-rate steadying for a fast ML agent compared to a PID controller using a quasi-physical spill simulation, and demonstrated distillation of that simulation into a predictive surrogate model. Current work includes a data-and-training pipeline to generate data-aware surrogates with real-world dynamics, even as the dynamics shift unpredictably. The surrogates are to act as RL environments against which to train our fast ML control agents before deploying them on FPGA in the live system. Further current efforts focus on modeling and controlling beam loss around the storage ring, understanding additional available hardware inputs to the model, and the interplay of these with beam-steadying performance.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Triangular cross-section beam splitters in silicon carbide for quantum information processing

Abstract Triangular cross-section color center photonics in silicon carbide is a leading candidate for scalable implementation of quantum hardware. Within this geometry, we model low-loss beam splitters for applications in key quantum optical operations such as entanglement and single-photon interferometry. We consider triangular cross-section single-mode waveguides for the design of a directional coupler. We optimize parameters for a 50:50 beam splitter. Finally, we test the experimental feasibility of the designs by fabricating triangular waveguides in an ion beam etching process and identify suitable designs for short-term implementation.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2023

Helions below |Gγ| = 10.5 in AGS

Polarized helion collisions are part of the Electron Ion Collider physics program. The required intensity at collision is 1.2×10 11 at 70% polarization. The EBIS source is expected to provide 2×10 11 helions/bunch at 80% polarization. To reach the EIC requirements, the AGS at extraction will need 1.5×10 11 helions/bunch and negligible polarization loss. A critical point for polarization loss in the injectors is the AGS injection energy, which can occur at either |Gγ| = 7.5 or |Gγ| = 10.5. Injection at |Gγ| = 7.5 will result in 80% beam loss and 2.5% polarization up to |Gγ| = 10.5.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Apex Study: Compensating Transient Beam Loading in the RHIC 28 MHZ

With the EIC on the way, it is important that developments and strategies are in place to deal with the very high beam currents that the machine will feature. Specifically, the EIC will collide beams of up to 2.5 A, three times the beam current in RHIC. This higher beam current will cause significant voltage transients in the cavity fields which can lead to longitudinal instabilities and beam loss. In anticipation of these negative effects, studies were carried out on the RHIC 28 MHz cavities using newly developed firmware and software to diagnose and combat beam loading. Diagnostic tools such as the bunch-by-bunch (BbyB) ADC firmware and digital network analyzer (DNA) were used to characterize the closed loop system and transient on the cavity voltage magnitude and phase. Then, a one-turn delay feedback (OTFB) and adaptive feed-forward (aFFWD) were used to minimize the transient beam loading. The studies were carried out with beam during 2 accelerator physics experiements (APEXs) using one of the 28 MHz accelerating cavities here at RHIC.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Experimental Studies of Nonlinear Integrable Optics with Elliptic Potentials

The stable transport of charged particle beams is the core challenge in designing and operating accelerators. The current paradigm for transverse focusing is based on quadrupole and dipole elements, described as a linear integrable Hamiltonian by Courant and Snyder. The operational limits of high intensity accelerators are often determined by collective instabilities within the beam. Nonlinear elements may be added to suppress certain forms of these collective effects, but restrict the range of stable trajectories. These shortcomings motivate extending to a nonlinear integrable system which can offer the benefits of suppressing collective instabilities without limiting the stable trajectories. Danilov and Nagaitsev proposed a novel nonlinear integrable system with elliptical potentials, which could be implemented as magnetic elements in an accelerator. Such a system has been implemented for practical verification in the integrable optics test accelerator (IOTA), a small storage ring constructed for beam dynamics studies. Electron beam studies in IOTA treat the low-emittance beam as a macroparticle for detailed probing of the expected single particle dynamics. This dissertation details new measurements of the nonlinear integrable system relevant for practical implementation. Turn-by-turn measurements of the kicked beam responses are used for phase space reconstruction and analysis of the predicted nonlinear dynamics. The stability and aperture for various nonlinear configurations are measured with beam losses. Amplitude dependent detuning, a core figure of merit for suppressing instabilities, is measured and compared with high fidelity particle tracking simulations. The synchrotron radiation images of circulating beam allow direct measurements of the topology and lifetime in configurations where nonlinear focusing terms dominate.

Wieland, John [Michigan U.] (ORCID:000000028971852↗

DOE OSTI2022

A Comparison of High Intensity Proton Efficiencies for Rf Harmonics 1 and 2

There have been many changes to the Booster setup over the past seven years, but the most fundamental physical change is probably the change from an Rf harmonic of 2 to 1. By looking at the intensity data over this period it is possible to compare the running efficiencies in each case. The harmonic change occurred at the beginning of the 1998 run. Another fundamental, though administrative, change that occurred after the 1998 run was the advent of ALARA alarms that limit the amount of beam loss that is allowed to occur during different parts of the cycle. These ALARA alarm limits also depend on the AGS repetition period since it is the amount of beam energy lost per unit time that is used as the criterion for these alarms. The 1998 h=1 run did not have an ALARA constraint, but subsequent h=1 runs did have that constraint. The highest Booster proton intensity was obtained in the h=2 mode (about 23 Tp). At best, the h=1 mode only yielded about 20 Tp per cycle. Is it because the h=2 setup can produce higher intensity than the h=1 setup that the h=2 intensity was higher, or is it because other factors are responsible? This note seeks to shed some light on this question. In order to compare the two setups (h=1 vs. h=2) intensity scaler data was taken from the setup books over the past seven years. In general, this data was taken when the Booster was in an optimized state. What ‘optimized’ means is not so clearly defined, but would typically mean that the Booster configuration was ‘optimized’ so that it yields the highest intensity late in the AGS given physical and other constraints.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Acceptance Calculation and Study of Fault Scenarios in the PIP-II Linac

The Proton Improvement Plan (PIP)-II is a proposed high intensity proton facility being developed at the Fermilab. The PIP-II is primarily based on construction of a new superconducting radio frequency (SRF) linear accelerator (linac) that would deliver an average beam current of 2mA with output energy up to 800 MeV. The acceptance of an accelerator outlines its sensitivity against deviations from its nominal design parameters. Consequently, a higher acceptance minimizes possibility of the beam loss. This paper presents longitudinal and transverse acceptance of the PIP-II SRF linac. Furthermore, paper also discusses implications of fault scenarios, such as the cavity failure, on the beam optics and acceptances.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Two-color x-ray free-electron laser by photocathode laser emittance spoiler

Multispectral x-ray pump-probe experiments call for synchronized two-color free-electron lasers (FEL). This mode often implies a laborious setup or an inefficient use of the undulator. We report on a simple and noninvasive approach tested at SwissFEL for a two-color x-ray delivering almost 60% of the pulse energy compared with a single color. In this new method, a ps UV pulse is overlapped to the photocathode drive laser increasing the beam emittance, which locally inhibits the FEL process. This scheme permits high-stability in energy and spectrum and the control of the two-color duration and intensity ratio. It enables shot-to-shot switching between one and two-color FEL and, since not associate to beam losses, it is compatible with high repetition-rate and high average-power FELs.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2021

McMillan electron lens in a system with space charge

Space charge (SC) forces of a circulating beam in a ring have both linear (defocusing) and nonlinear components, due to a nonuniform beam distribution. The linear component of SC forces produces a betatron tune shift, which is the largest for a zero-amplitude particle, while the nonlinear component produces an amplitude-dependent betatron tune spread. These SC effects are responsible for several undesirable phenomena in accelerators: emittance growth, particle losses, beam halo, etc. In this paper, we investigate the possibility to mitigate the distributed SC forces by a thin McMillan lens, providing an axially-symmetric kick, which is qualitatively opposite to the accumulated effect of beam's own SC. Experimentally, the proposed concept can be tested in Fermilab's IOTA ring. A thin McMillan lens can be implemented by a short (70) insertion of an electron beam with a specifically chosen density distribution in transverse directions. In this article, to test if McMillan lenses can reduce the tune spread induced by SC, we make several simulations with a 6-D particle tracking code, Synergia. We choose such beam and lattice parameters that the SC tune spread is roughly 0.5 and the emittance growth due to the half-integer resonance is clearly observed without the SC compensation. Then, we focus on reducing the emittance growth by adjusting the bare betatron tunes using the ring quadrupoles, and reducing the tune spread by the McMillan lenses. The results of reducing a large tune spread (≈ 0.5), reported here, are not perfect, but substantial. There is still room for further investigation. The simulations performed so far in this work indicate that McMillan lenses can cope with an SC tune spread of ≈ 0.1 per lens.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Electron Cloud Simulations for the Electron-Ion Collider in Brookhaven National Laboratory

For high-intensity circular accelerators and storage rings, if the secondary electron emission yield (SEY) of the vacuum chamber surfaces is high, an EC (Electron Cloud) could build up with the passage of the circulating beam. The presence of EC can strongly affect the beam quality, such as transverse instabilities, transverse emittance growth, and beam loss. Furthermore, the heat load from EC can exceed the available cryogenic capability. For the RHIC superconducting (SC) arc magnets, to be used for the hadron storage ring of the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), the dynamic heat load budget is 0.5 W/m to the 4.5 K stainless steel beam pipe. This can limit the maximum beam bunches or intensity of the EIC, hence diminishing the luminosity provided by the EIC. The EC has affected the beam instability and significantly contributed to cryogenic heat load in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Positron storage rings for which ECs have been a critical factor in the design and performance include KEKB in Japan and EC buildup remains one of the concerns for future high-intensity accelerators design. EC considerations have driven the SuperKEKB collider design and the positron damping ring for the proposed International Linear Collider (ILC). The LHC luminosity upgrade is contingent on reducing the bunch spacing to 25 ns; at this bunch spacing, severe EC buildup has been observed. The success of the upgrade is likely contingent on limiting EC buildup. To study the EC heat load, we did some EC simulations with PyECLOUD code for the dipole, quadrupole, sextupole magnets, and the warm (drift) section of the EIC hadron storage ring. PyECLOUD is an EC simulation code developed by CERN. The code has been validated and used to study EC in the LHC, SPS, and PS. To eliminate EC buildup, the sources of electrons must be minimized. First, we will reduce the production of electrons due to residual gas ionization by specifying the maximum gas density, which requires a vacuum chamber with low electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) yields and a sufficient (preferably distributed) pumping speed. Second, we should reduce the secondary electrons with a lower secondary electron yield (SEY) material.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗