MD#1826: Measurement of Quench Heater vertical kick

Abstract

Following the observation of vertical orbit oscillations of the LHC beam between the detection of a (beam induced) quench of an LHC main dipole and the beam dump, a study was started to verify that the orbit distortions are caused by the firing of the quench heaters (QH). Simulation of the magnetic field generated by the discharge of the QH and its effect on the beam confirmed it was the most likely cause. A dedicated experiment with 450 GeV proton beams was performed to validate the simulation results. The results are presented below and compared to the simulations. Furthermore, estimates on the effect of quench heater firing in superconducting magnets other than the studied LHC main dipoles on the circulating proton beams in LHC and the future HL-LHC are discussed