R&D On Beam Injection and Bunching Schemes In The Fermilab Booster

TL;DR

Fermilab has developed and implemented an innovative early injection scheme for the Booster that significantly increases beam intensity, supporting ongoing and future accelerator upgrade plans.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel early injection scheme for the Fermilab Booster that enhances beam intensity by over 40%, integrating seamlessly with existing and planned upgrades.

Findings

Beam intensity increased by over 40% with the new scheme

Successful implementation and operation of the scheme at Fermilab

Potential for further improvements and integration with upgrade plans

Abstract

Fermilab is committed to upgrade its accelerator complex to support HEP experiments at the intensity frontier. The ongoing Proton Improvement Plan (PIP) enables us to reach 700 kW beam power on the NuMI neutrino targets. By the end of the next decade, the current 400 MeV normal conducting LINAC will be replaced by an 800 MeV superconducting LINAC (PIP-II) with an increased beam power >50% of the PIP design goal. Both in PIP and PIP-II era, the existing Booster is going to play a very significant role, at least for next two decades. In the meanwhile, we have recently developed an innovative beam injection and bunching scheme for the Booster called "early injection scheme" that continues to use the existing 400 MeV LINAC and implemented into operation. This scheme has the potential to increase the Booster beam intensity by >40% from the PIP design goal. Some benefits from the scheme have already been seen. In this paper, I will describe the basic principle of the scheme, results from recent beam experiments, our experience with the new scheme in operation, current status, issues and future plans. This scheme fits well with the current and future intensity upgrade programs at Fermilab.