Beam Tests of Ionization Chambers for the NuMI Neutrino Beam

TL;DR

This paper reports on beam tests of ionization chambers at Fermilab to evaluate their performance as neutrino beam monitors, focusing on space charge effects at high proton fluxes.

Contribution

It provides experimental data on ionization chamber performance under high-intensity proton fluxes for neutrino beam monitoring.

Findings

Ionization chambers can operate effectively at high proton fluxes.

Space charge effects significantly impact signal collection at large intensities.

Results inform the design of neutrino beam monitoring systems.

Abstract

We have conducted tests at the Fermilab Booster of ionization chambers to be used as monitors of the NuMI neutrino beamline. The chambers were exposed to proton fluxes of up to 10$^{12}$ particles/cm$^2$/1.56$\mu$s. We studied space charge effects which can reduce signal collection from the chambers at large charged particle beam intensities.