Finding Beam Loss Locations at PIP2IT Accelerator With Oscillating Dipole Correctors

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel method using oscillating dipole correctors to locate beam loss points in the PIP2IT accelerator, especially in low-radiation areas, by analyzing spectral responses of beam position monitors.

Contribution

It introduces an innovative technique for pinpointing beam loss locations using oscillating trajectories and spectral analysis, improving diagnostics in low-radiation regions.

Findings

Successfully identified beam loss locations in PIP2IT

Validated the method's effectiveness through experimental results

Enhanced beam diagnostics for accelerator maintenance

Abstract

The PIP2IT accelerator was assembled in multiple stages in 2014 - 2021 to test concepts and components of the future PIP-II linac that is being constructed at Fermilab. In its final configuration, PIP2IT accelerated a 0.55 ms x 20 Hz x 2 mA H- beam to 16 MeV. To determine location of the beam loss in the accelerators low-energy part, where radiation monitors are ineffective, a method using oscillating trajectories was implemented. If the beam is scraped at an aperture limitation, moving its centroid with two dipole correctors located upstream and oscillating in sync, produces a line at the corresponding frequency in spectra of BPM sum signals downstream of the loss point. Comparison of these responses along the beam line allows to find the loss location. The paper describes the method and results of its implementation at PIP2IT.