Relaxation of axially confined 400 GeV/c protons to planar channeling in a bent crystal

TL;DR

This study investigates how high-energy protons relax from axial confinement to planar channeling in bent crystals, demonstrating potential for beam steering and splitting in particle accelerators through experimental and simulation comparison.

Contribution

It provides new insights into proton channeling relaxation mechanisms and demonstrates practical applications for beam manipulation using bent crystals.

Findings

Good agreement between experiments and simulations.

Short bent crystals can act as beam steerers or splitters.

Complete relaxation enables beam splitting into skew planar channels.

Abstract

An investigation on the mechanism of relaxation of axially confined 400 GeV/c protons to planar channeling in a bent crystal was carried out at the extracted line H8 from CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. The experimental results were critically compared to computer simulations, showing a good agreement. We firmly individuated a necessary condition for the exploitation of axial confinement or its relaxation for particle beam manipulation in high-energy accelerators. We demonstrated that with a short bent crystal, aligned with one of its main axis to the beam direction, it is possible to realize either a total beam steerer or a beam splitter with adjustable intensity. In particular, in the latter case, a complete relaxation from axial confinement to planar channeling takes place, resulting in beam splitting into the two strongest skew planar channels.