A Squid-Based Beam Current Monitor For FAIR

A Cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) wasdeveloped for the upcoming FAIR-Project, providing anon-destructive online monitoring of the beam current inthe nA-range. The CCC was optimized for a lowestpossible noise-limited current resolution together with ahigh system bandwidth. Therefore, the low temperatureproperties of ferromagnetic core materials used in thepick-up coil were investigated and differentSuperconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID)-systems were tested.In this contribution we present results of the completedCryogenic Current Comparator for FAIR working in alaboratory environment, regarding the improvements inresolution and bandwidth due to the use of suitableferromagnetic core materials and optimized SQUIDsystemcomponents

Beam Current Monitors for FAIR

The FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) accelerator facility presently under construction at GSIwill supply a wide range of beam intensities for physicsexperiments. Design beam intensities range from 2.5×1013protons/cycle to be delivered to the pBar-target andseparator for production of antiprotons, to beams of e.g.109 ions/s in the case of slowly extracted beams. Thelarge intensity range demands for dedicated beam currentmonitors for precise, non-destructive beam intensitymeasurements in the synchrotrons, transport lines andstorage rings of the FAIR facility. This report describesGSI developments of purpose-built beam currentmonitors for the SIS100 synchrotron and high-energybeam transport lines (HEBT) of FAIR. Prototypemeasurements with a SQUID-based Cryogenic CurrentComparator and a resonant beam charge transformer arepresented, and possibilities for further upgrades arediscussed

Numerical analysis of a folded superconducting coaxial shield for cryogenic current comparators

This paper presents a new shield configuration for cryogenic current comparators (CCCs), namely the folded coaxial geometry. An analytical model describing its shielding performance is first developed, and then validated by means of finite element simulations. Thanks to this model, the fundamental properties of the new shield are highlighted. Additionally, this paper compares the volumetric performance of the folded coaxial shield to the one of a ring shield, the latter being installed in many CCCs for measuring particle beam currents in accelerator facilities.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figure

Cryogenic Current Comparators for Precise Ion Beam Current Measurements

The planned Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) at GSI has to cope with a wide range of beam intensities in its high-energy beam transport systems and in the storage rings. To meet the requirements of a non-intercepting intensity measurement down to nA range, it is planned to install a number of Cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) units at different locations in the FAIR beamlines. In this work, the first CCC system for intensity measurement of heavy ion beams, which was developed at GSI, was re-commissioned and upgraded to be used as a 'GSI - CCC prototype' for extensive optimization and development of an improved CCC for FAIR. After installation of a new SQUID sensor and related electronics, as well as implementation of improved data acquisition components, successful beam current measurements were performed at a SIS18 extraction line. The measured intensity values were compared with those of a Secondary Electron Monitor (SEM). Furthermore, the spill-structure of a slowly extracted beam was measured and analyzed, investigating its improvement due to bunching during the slow-extraction process. Due to the extreme sensitivity of the superconducting sensor, the determined intensity values as well as the adjustment of the system for optimal performance are strongly influenced by the numerous noise sources of the accelerators environment. For this reason, detailed studies of different effects caused by noise have been carried out, which are presented together with proposals to reduce them. Similarly, studies were performed to increase the dynamic range and overcome slew rate limitations, the results of which are illustrated and discussed as well. By combining the various optimizations and characterizations of the GSI CCC prototype with the experiences made during beam operation, criteria for a more efficient CCC System could be worked out, which are presented in this work. The details of this new design are worked out with respect to the corresponding boundary conditions at FAIR. Larger beam tube diameters, higher radiation resistivity and UHV requirements are of particular importance for the cryostat. At the same time these parameters affect the CCC superconducting magnetic shielding, which again has significant influence on the current resolution of the system. In order to investigate the influence of the geometry of the superconducting magnetic shield on different magnetic field components and to optimize the attenuation, FEM simulations have been performed. Based on the results of these calculations, modifications of the shield geometry for optimum damping behavior are proposed and discussed in the thesis

Cryogenic Current Comparator for Storage Rings and Accelerators

A Cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) was developed for a non-destructive, highly sensitive monitoring of nA beams at the planned FAIR accelerator facility at GSI. The sensor part of the CCC was optimized for lowest possible noise-limited current resolution in combination with a high system bandwidth of about 200 kHz. It is foreseen to install the CCC inside the CRYRING, which will act as a well-suited test bench for further optimization of the CCC performance and the cryostat. In the meantime - until the completion of CRYRING - a CCC has been installed and will be tested in the antiproton storage ring (Antiproton Decelerator AD) at CERN. The pulse shape in the AD requires dedicated optimization of the sensor time response. The beam current will increase rapidly during injection from 0 to 12 μA. Since the slew rate of the overall system is limited by the CCC pickup coil, the input signal has to be low-pass filtered to not exceed the slew rate of the CCC system and to ensure a stable operation. For this purpose different low-pass configurations had been tested. In this contribution we present results of the CCC ¬sensor for AD, CRYRING and FAIR, respectively