ANL, Argonne, Illinois
The Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) accelerates 3.2x 1012 protons from 50 MeV to 450 MeV at 30 Hz. During the 14.2 ms acceleration period, the RF frequency varies from 2.21 MHz to 5.14 MHz. In order to improve capture efficiency, we varied the injection timing and the early RF voltage profiles. The experimental results are compared with similar studies at ISIS and calculation done with the 1-D tracking code, Capture-SPC. This allowed us to optimize injection time and the RF voltage profile for better capture efficiency. An optimized injection time and RF voltage profile was found that resulted in raising the capture efficiency from 85.1% to 88.6%. These studies have now also been expanded to included 2nd harmonic RF during the capture and initial acceleration cycle in the RCS.
ANL, Argonne, Illinois
The Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) accelerates 3.2x 1012 protons from 50 MeV to 450 MeV at 30 Hz. During the 14.2 ms acceleration period, the RF frequency varies from 2.21 MHz to 5.14 MHz. The beam current is limited by a vertical instability. By analyzing turn-by-turn Beam Position Monitor (BPM) data, large amplitude mode 0 and mode 1 vertical beam centroid oscillations were observed in the later part of the acceleration cycle. The oscillations develop in the tail of the bunch, build up and remain localized in the later part of the bunch. This vertical instability was compared with a head-tail instability that was intentionally induced in the RCS by adjusting the trim-sextupoles to make the horizontal chromaticity positive (below transition). It appears that our vertical instability is not typical head-tail instability. More data analysis and experiments were performed to characterize the instability.
ANL, Argonne, Illinois
The Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) is used to accelerate protons from 50 MeV to 450 MeV, at a repetition rate of 30 Hz. The original ring design included two identical RF systems, each consisting of an accelerating cavity, cavity bias supply, power amplifiers and low level analog electronics. The original cavities are located 180 degrees apart in the ring, and provide a total peak accelerating voltage of ~21 kV over the 2.21 MHz to 5.14 MHz revolution frequency sweep. A third RF system has been constructed and installed in the RCS. The third RF system is capable of operating at the fundamental revolution frequency for the entire acceleration cycle, providing an additional peak accelerating voltage of up to ~11kV, or at the second harmonic of the revolution frequency for the first ~4 ms of the acceleration cycle, providing an additional peak voltage of up to ~11kV for bunch shape control, resulting in a modest increase in bunch length. We describe here to date, the hardware implementation and operation of the third RF cavity in the second harmonic mode.
ANL, Argonne, Illinois
In the IPNS RCS, a single proton bunch (h=1) is accelerated from 50 MeV to 450 MeV in 14.2 ms. The bunch experiences an instability shortly after injection (<1 ms). During the first 1 ms, the beam is bunched but little acceleration takes place; thus, this period of operation is similar to that of a storage ring. Natural vertical oscillations (assumed to be tune lines) show the vertical tune to be rising toward the bare tune value, suggesting neutralization of space charge and a reduction of its detuning effects. Neutralization time near injection ranges from 0.25 ms - 0.5 ms, depending on the background gas pressure. Oscillations move from the LSB to the USB before disappearing. Measurements made with a recently installed pinger system show the horizontal chromaticity to be positive early but approaching zero later in the cycle. The vertical chromaticity is negative throughout the cycle. During pinger studies, two lines are observed, suggesting the formation of islands. Neutralization of the beam space charge implies the generation of plasma in the beam volume early in the cycle which may then dissipate as the time-varying electric fields of the beam become stronger.