Analysis of the maximum potential proton flux to CNGS

In this note we investigate the limitations to the proton flux which can be sent to the CNGS facility and estimate the maximum that can be attained. In the first part, the injector chain remains unchanged and the limitations are reviewed for operation up to the so called ultimate CNGS intensity, 7x10^13 protons per CNGS cycle. In the second part, the limitations of the SPS accelerator and CNGS facility are described in the scenario of operating with the new injectors - LINAC4, SPL and PS2, as proposed by the PAF working group (PAF)

LHC Abort Gap Cleaning with the Transverse Damper

In the Large Hadron Collider, LHC, particles not captured by the RF system at injection or leaking out of the RF bucket may quench the superconducting magnets during beam abort. The problem, common to other superconducting machines, is particularly serious for the LHC due to the very large stored energy in the beam. For the LHC a way of removing the unbunched beam has been studied and it uses the existing damper kickers to excite resonantly the particles travelling along the abort gap. In this paper we describe the results of simulations performed with MAD X for various LHC optics configurations, including the estimated multipolar errors

Progress with the Upgrade of the SPS for the HL-LHC Era

The demanding beam performance requirements of the High Luminosity (HL-) LHC project translate into a set of requirements and upgrade paths for the LHC injector complex. In this paper the performance requirements for the SPS and the known limitations are reviewed in the light of the 2012 operational experience. The various SPS upgrades in progress and still under consideration are described, in addition to the machine studies and simulations performed in 2012. The expected machine performance reach is estimated on the basis of the present knowledge, and the remaining decisions that still need to be made concerning upgrade options are detailed.Comment: 3 p. Presented at 4th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC 2013

AWAKE: A proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration experiment at CERN

The AWAKE Collaboration has been formed in order to demonstrate proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration for the first time. This acceleration technique could lead to future colliders of high energy but of a much reduced length when compared to proposed linear accelerators. The CERN SPS proton beam in the CNGS facility will be injected into a 10 m plasma cell where the long proton bunches will be modulated into significantly shorter micro bunches. These micro-bunches will then initiate a strong wakefield in the plasma with peak fields above 1 GV/m that will be harnessed to accelerate a bunch of electrons from about 20 MeV to the GeV scale within a few meters. The experimental program is based on detailed numerical simulations of beam and plasma interactions. The main accelerator components, the experimental area and infrastructure required as well as the plasma cell and the diagnostic equipment are discussed in detail. First protons to the experiment are expected at the end of 2016 and this will be followed by an initial three-four years experimental program. The experiment will inform future larger-scale tests of proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration and applications to high energy colliders.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

AWAKE: A Proton-Driven Plasma Wakefield Acceleration Experiment at CERN

The AWAKE Collaboration has been formed in order to demonstrate proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration for the first time. This acceleration technique could lead to future colliders of high energy but of a much reduced length when compared to proposed linear accelerators. The CERN SPS proton beam in the CNGS facility will be injected into a 10 m plasma cell where the long proton bunches will be modulated into significantly shorter micro-bunches. These micro-bunches will then initiate a strong wakefield in the plasma with peak fields above 1 GV/m that will be harnessed to accelerate a bunch of electrons from about 20 MeV to the GeV scale within a few meters. The experimental program is based on detailed numerical simulations of beam and plasma interactions. The main accelerator components, the experimental area and infrastructure required as well as the plasma cell and the diagnostic equipment are discussed in detail. First protons to the experiment are expected at the end of 2016 and this will be followed by an initial three-four years experimental program. The experiment will inform future larger-scale tests of proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration and applications to high energy colliders

Path to AWAKE : evolution of the concept

This paper describes the conceptual steps in reaching the design of the AWAKE experiment currently under construction at CERN. We start with an introduction to plasma wakefield acceleration and the motivation for using proton drivers. We then describe the self-modulation instability - a key to an early realization of the concept. This is then followed by the historical development of the experimental design, where the critical issues that arose and their solutions are described. We conclude with the design of the experiment as it is being realized at CERN and some words on the future outlook. A summary of the AWAKE design and construction status as presented in this conference is given in Gschwendtner et al. [1]

Theta_13: phenomenology, present status and prospect

The leptonic mixing angle theta_13 is currently a high-priority topic in the field of neutrino physics, with five experiments under way, searching for neutrino oscillations induced by this angle. We review the phenomenology of theta_13 and discuss the information from present global oscillation data. A description of the upcoming reactor and accelerator experiments searching for a non-zero value of theta_13 is given, and we evaluate the sensitivity reach within the next few years.Comment: Topical review, 55 pages, 23 figures, v2: various minor improvements, references added, new section 6, matches version to appear in J. Phys.

Feasibility Study of the Awake Facility at CERN

Plasma Wakefield acceleration is a rapidly developing field which appears to be a promising candidate technology for future high-energy accelerators. The Proton Driven Plasma Wakefield Acceleration Experiment has been proposed as an approach to eventually accelerate an electron beam to the TeV energy range in a single plasma section. To verify this novel technique, a proof-of-principle demonstration experiment, AWAKE, is proposed using 400 GeV proton bunches from the SPS. Detailed studies on the identification of the best site for the installation of the AWAKE facility resulted in proposing the CNGS facility as best location. Design and integration layouts covering the beam line, the experimental area and all interfaces and services are shown. Among other issues, radiation protection, safety and civil engineering constraints are raised

Upgrade Plans for the LHC injector complex

Challenging beams with much higher brightness than today are required for the LHC to achieve its high luminosity objective after the year 2020. It is the purpose of the LHC Injectors Upgrade (LIU) project to achieve this result, consolidating and upgrading the existing set of synchrotrons (PSB, PS and SPS), and using the new linac presently in construction (Linac4). The anticipated beam characteristics are described and compared to the known limitations in the different accelerators. The foreseen solutions are outlined as well as the planning for their implementation