Simulations of Bunch Merging in a Beta Beam Decay Ring

TL;DR

This paper investigates RF bunch merging techniques in a Beta Beam decay ring to optimize neutrino beam intensity and duty cycle, using simulations for different ion sources and scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a revised RF bunch merging scheme with new simulation results for multiple ion sources in a Beta Beam decay ring.

Findings

Merging scheme meets intensity and duty cycle requirements

Simulation results vary for different ion sources

Method applicable to multiple neutrino source scenarios

Abstract

To further study neutrino oscillation properties a Beta Beam facility has been proposed. Beta decaying ions with high kinetic energy are stored in a storage ring ("Decay Ring") with straight sections to create pure focused (anti) electron neutrino beams. However to reach high sensitivity to neutrino oscillation parameters in the experiment the bunched beam intensity and duty cycle in the DR have to be optimized. The first CERN-based scenario, using 6He and 18Ne as neutrino sources, has been studied using a bunch merging RF scheme. Two RF cavities at different frequencies are used to capture newly injected bunches and then merge them into the stored bunches. It was shown that this scheme could satisfy the requirements on intensity and duty cycle set by the experiment. This merging scheme has now been revised with new simulation software providing new results for 6He and 18Ne. Furthermore bunch merging has been studied for the second CERN-based scenario using 8Li and 8B.