Integrating the TRACK beam simulation code to improve ATLAS operations

Abstract

At the Argonne Tandem Linear Accelerator System (ATLAS) we are integrating TRACK, three dimensional particle tracking software that numerically integrates the equations of motion, into the accelerator control system. ATLAS delivers a variety of ions (1 - 238 AMU) at various energies (1 - 15 MeV/u) to multiple targets. By comparing simulated and observed performance, model driven operations will improve the understanding of the facility, reduce tune times, and improve the beam quality for these diverse operating conditions. This paper will describe the work to interface TRACK with the real-time accelerator control system, and the results of simulations used to characterize and configure the accelerator