Acceleration in the linear non-scaling fixed-field alternating-gradient accelerator EMMA

S. Machida, R. Barlow, J. S. Berg, N. Bliss, R. K. Buckley, J. A. Clarke, M. K. Craddock, R. D'Arcy, Robert Edgecock, J. M. Garland, Y. Giboudot, P. Goudket, S. Griffiths, C. Hill, S. F. Hill, K. M. Hock, D. J. Holder, M. G. Ibison, F. Jackson, S. P. JamisonC. Johnstone, J. K. Jones, L. B. Jones, A. Kalinin, E. Keil, D. Kelliher, I. W. Kirkman, S. Koscielniak, K. Marinov, N. Marks, B. Martlew, P. A. McIntosh, J. W. McKenzie, F. Méot, K. J. Middleman, A. Moss, B. D. Muratori, J. Orrett, H. L. Owen, J. Pasternak, K. J. Peach, M. W. Poole, Y-N. Rao, Y. Saveliev, D. J. Scott, S. L. Sheehy, B. J. A. Shepherd, R. Smith, S. L. Smith, D. Trbojevic, S. Tzenov, T. Weston, A. Wheelhouse, P. H. Williams, A. Wolski, T. Yokoi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

92 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In a fixed-field alternating-gradient (FFAG) accelerator, eliminating pulsed magnet operation permits rapid acceleration to synchrotron energies, but with a much higher beam-pulse repetition rate. Conceived in the 1950s, FFAGs are enjoying renewed interest, fuelled by the need to rapidly accelerate unstable muons for future high-energy physics colliders. Until now a ‘scaling’ principle has been applied to avoid beam blow-up and loss. Removing this restriction produces a new breed of FFAG, a non-scaling variant, allowing powerful advances in machine characteristics. We report on the first non-scaling FFAG, in which orbits are compacted to within 10 mm in radius over an electron momentum range of 12–18 MeV/c. In this strictly linear-gradient FFAG, unstable beam regions are crossed, but acceleration via a novel serpentine channel is so rapid that no significant beam disruption is observed. This result has significant implications for future particle accelerators, particularly muon and high-intensity proton accelerators.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)243-247
Number of pages5
JournalNature Physics
Volume8
Issue number3
Early online date10 Jan 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2012

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