Towards An H−H^{-} RF Source for Future CERN Accelerator Projectss

An increase of beam intensity and brightness is essential for future upgrades of existing CERN proton accelerator facilities. A first step can be an injection of H- ions from a new higher energy H- linear accelerator called Linac4 into the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB. A second step could be the complete replacement of the PSB by a highpower linear accelerator, called SPL, injecting directly into the Proton Synchrotron (PS. Both injection scenarios require a high performance, high reliability negative hydrogen ion source. This paper will present the challenging source requirements and the two approaches to fulfil them

Development of Thick-foil and Fine-pitch GEMs with a Laser Etching Technique

We have produced thick-foil and fine-pitch gas electron multipliers (GEMs) using a laser etching technique. To improve production yield we have employed a new material, Liquid Crystal Polymer, instead of polyimide as an insulator layer. The effective gain of the thick-foil GEM with a hole pitch of 140 um, a hole diameter of 70 um, and a thickness of 100 um reached a value of 10^4 at an applied voltage of 720 V. The measured effective gain of the thick-foil and fine-pitch GEM (80 um pitch, 40 um diameter, and 100 um thick) was similar to that of the thick-foil GEM. The gain stability was measured for the thick-foil and fine-pitch GEM, showing no significant increase or decrease as a function of elapsed time from applying the high voltage. The gain stability over 3 h of operation was about 0.5%. Gain mapping across the GEM showed a good uniformity with a standard deviation of about 4%. The distribution of hole diameters across the GEM was homogeneous with a standard deviation of about 3%. There was no clear correlation between the gain and hole diameter maps.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figure

The SPL (II) at CERN, a Superconducting 3.5 GeV H- Linac

A revision of the physics needs and recent progress in the technology of superconducting (SC) RF cavities have triggered major changes in the design of a SC H-linac at CERN. With up to 5MW beam power, the SPL can be the proton driver for a next generation ISOL-type radioactive beam facility (âEURISOLâ) and/or supply protons to a neutrino () facility (conventional superbeam + beta-beam or -factory). Furthermore the SPL can replace Linac2 and the PS booster (PSB), improving significantly the beam performance in terms of brightness, intensity, and reliability for the benefit of all proton users at CERN, including LHC and its luminosity upgrade. Compared with the first conceptual design, the beam energy is almost doubled (3.5GeV instead of 2.2 GeV) while the length is reduced by 40%. At a repetition rate of 50 Hz, the linac reuses decommissioned 352.2MHz RF equipment from LEP in the low-energy part. Beyond 90MeV the RF frequency is doubled, and from 180MeV onwards high-gradient SC bulkniobium cavities accelerate the beam to its final energy of 3.5GeV. This paper presents the overall design approach, together with the technical progress since the first conceptual design in 2000

Conceptual design of the SPL II: A high-power superconducting H−H^- linac at CERN

An analysis of the revised physics needs and recent progress in the technology of superconducting RF cavities have led to major changes in the speci cation and in the design for a Superconducting Proton Linac (SPL) at CERN. Compared with the rst conceptual design report (CERN 2000012) the beam energy is almost doubled (3.5 GeV instead of 2.2 GeV), while the length of the linac is reduced by 40% and the repetition rate is reduced to 50 Hz. The basic beam power is at a level of 45MW and the approach chosen offers enough margins for upgrades. With this high beam power, the SPL can be the proton driver for an ISOL-type radioactive ion beam facility of the next generation (`EURISOL'), and for a neutrino facility based on superbeam C beta-beam or on muon decay in a storage ring (`neutrino factory'). The SPL can also replace the Linac2 and PS Booster in the low-energy part of the CERN proton accelerator complex, improving signi cantly the beam performance in terms of brightness and intensity for the bene t of all users including the LHC and its luminosity upgrade. Decommissioned LEP klystrons and RF equipment are used to provide RF power at a frequency of 352.2 MHz in the lowenergy part of the accelerator. Beyond 90 MeV, the RF frequency is doubled to take advantage of more compact normal-conducting accelerating structures up to an energy of 180 MeV. From there, state-ofthe- art, high-gradient, bulk-niobium superconducting cavities accelerate the beam up to its nal energy of 3.5 GeV. The overall design approach is presented, together with the progress that has been achieved since the publication of the rst conceptual design report

GEM-based photon detector for rich applications

We describe the performance of a photon detector based on the Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM). With a CsI photocathode deposited on the first GEM in a cascade, the device permits to efficiently detect and localize single photoelectrons produced by UV photons between the CsI threshold (~6.2eV) and the quartz window cutoff (~7.5eV). The single-photon position accuracy achieved, ~55m rms, and the excellent multi-photon resolution makes it well suited for Cherenkov Ring Imaging applications

A Radio Frequency Driven H- Source for Linac4.

Future requirements on higher beam intensity and brightness will need an upgrade of the present CERN accelerator chain. Linac4 will be an essential part of the upgrade of the proton accelerator facility. The source for this H(-) linac will be based on a copy of the DESY rf driven H(-) source. New possible radio frequency quadrupole alternatives (with different injection energies) and a pressing linac schedule made it necessary to develop a flexible two-source design

Detection of primary and field-enhanced scintillation in xenon with a CsI-coated GEM detector

We report the observation of radiation-induced primary and field- enhanced gas scintillation in xenon with a Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector, having an internal CsI photocathode. The measurement of the time lag between prompt and delayed pulses can be exploited to reduce the parallax error in X-ray detectors having thick conversion volumes

Towards an H- RF source for future CERN accelerator projects

An increase of beam intensity and brightness is essential for future upgrades of existing CERN proton accelerator facilities. A first step can be an injection of H− ions from a new higher energy H− linear accelerator called Linac4 into the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB). A second step could be the complete replacement of the PSB by a high‐power linear accelerator, called SPL, injecting directly into the Proton Synchrotron (PS). Both injection scenarios require a high performance, high reliability negative hydrogen ion source. This paper will present the challenging source requirements and the two approaches to fulfill them