A. Zelenski

Optically pumped polarized H− ion source for RHIC spin physics

A new optically pumped polarized H− ion source (OPPIS) was developed for the RHIC polarization program and successfully used for the first polarized beam commissioning at RHIC. The OPPIS produces in excess of 1.0 mA H− ion current at about 80% polarization. An ECR primary proton source development and a new 29 GHz microwave power supply are described. A new type sodium-jet ionizer cell is biased to −32 kV to produce a 35 keV polarized beam ready for injection to the RFQ. Higher current and higher polarization were also obtained with the biased jet-cell in comparison with an old oven-type ionizer cell.

Polarized Proton Acceleration in the AGS with Two Helical Partial Snakes

Acceleration of polarized protons in the energy range of 5 to 25 GeV is particularly difficult: the depolarizing resonances are strong enough to cause significant depolarization but full Siberian snakes cause intolerably large orbit excursions and are not feasible in the AGS since straight sections are too short. Recently, two helical partial snakes have been built and installed in the AGS. With careful setup of optics at injection and along the ramp, this combination can eliminate the intrinsic and imperfection depolarizing resonances encountered during acceleration. This paper presents the accelerator setup and preliminary results.

Spin dynamics in AGS and RHIC

A fundamental aspect of particle physics is the spin of the particles. With polarized beams, the internal structure of the proton may be probed in ways that are unattainable with unpolarized beams. The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has the unique capability of colliding protons with both transverse and longitudinal polarization at center-of-mass energies up to 500 GeV. In this paper we examine the methods used to accelerate and manipulate polarized proton beams in RHIC and its injectors. Special techniques include the use of a partial Siberian snake and an ac dipole in the AGS. In RHIC we use four superconducting helical Siberian snakes (two per ring) for acceleration, and eight superconducting helical rotators for independent control of polarization directions at two interaction regions.

Review of polarized ion sources (invited).

Recent progress in polarized ion sources development is reviewed. New techniques for production of polarized H(-) ion (proton), D(-) (D(+)), and (3)He(++) ion beams are discussed. Feasibility studies of these techniques are in progress at BNL and other laboratories. Polarized deuteron beams will be required for the polarization program at the Dubna Nuclotron and at the deuteron electric dipole moment experiment at BNL. Experiments with polarized (3)He(++) ion beams are a part of the experimental program at the future electron ion collider.

Polarized H− Jet Polarimeter For Absolute Proton Polarization Measurements in RHIC

Status of the H‐jet polarimeter development is reviewed. A number of design issues are discussed including vacuum system, integration into the RHIC storage ring, scattering chamber, and uniform vertical holding field magnet design. The absolute proton polarization of the atomic hydrogen‐jet target will be measured to 3% accuracy by a Breit‐ systematic error contribution to the jet‐target polarization measurements is also discussed.

The RHIC polarized H− ion source

A novel polarization technique had been successfully implemented for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) polarized H(-) ion source upgrade to higher intensity and polarization. In this technique, a proton beam inside the high magnetic field solenoid is produced by ionization of the atomic hydrogen beam (from external source) in the He-gaseous ionizer cell. Further proton polarization is produced in the process of polarized electron capture from the optically pumped Rb vapor. The use of high-brightness primary beam and large cross sections of charge-exchange cross sections resulted in production of high intensity H(-) ion beam of 85% polarization. The source very reliably delivered polarized beam in the RHIC Run-2013 and Run-2015. High beam current, brightness, and polarization resulted in 75% polarization at 23 GeV out of Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) and 60%-65% beam polarization at 100-250 GeV colliding beams in RHIC.

Optical beam profile monitor and residual gas fluorescence at the relativistic heavy ion collider polarized hydrogen jet

A gas fluorescence beam profile monitor has been implemented at the relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) using the polarized atomic hydrogen gas jet, which is part of the polarized proton polarimeter. RHIC proton beam profiles in the vertical plane of the accelerator are obtained as well as measurements of the width of the gas jet in the beam direction. For gold ion beams, the fluorescence cross section is sufficiently large so that profiles can be obtained from the residual gas alone, albeit with long light integration times. We estimate the fluorescence cross sections that were not known in this ultrarelativistic regime and calculate the beam emittance to provide an independent measurement of the RHIC beam. This optical beam diagnostic technique, utilizing the beam induced fluorescence from injected or residual gas, offers a noninvasive particle beam characterization and provides visual observation of proton and heavy ion beams.

Accelerating polarized protons to 250 GeV

The relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) as the first high energy polarized proton collider was designed to provide polarized proton collisions at a maximum beam energy of 250 GeV. It has been providing collisions at a beam energy of 100 GeV since 2001. Equipped with two full Siberian snakes in each ring, polarization is preserved during the acceleration from injection to 100 GeV with careful control of the betatron tunes and the vertical orbit distortions. However, the intrinsic spin resonances beyond 100 GeV are about a factor of two stronger than those below 100 GeV making it important to examine the impact of these strong intrinsic spin resonances on polarization survival and the tolerance for vertical orbit distortions. Polarized protons were accelerated to the record energy of 250 GeV in RHIC with a polarization of 46% measured at top energy in 2006. The polarization measurement as a function of beam energy also shows some polarization loss around 136 GeV, the first strong intrinsic resonance above 100 GeV. This paper presents the results and discusses the sensitivity of the polarization survival to orbit distortions.

Luminescence Beam Profile Monitor for the RHIC Polarized Hydrogen Jet Polarimeter

A new polarized hydrogen jet target was used to provide improved beam polarization measurements during the second polarized proton run in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The luminescence produced by beam-hydrogen excitations was also used to test the feasibility of a new beam profile monitor for RHIC based on the detection of the emitted light. Lenses, a view-port and a sensitive CCD camera were added to the system to record the optical signals from the interaction chamber. The first very promising results are reported here. The same system with an additional optical spectrometer or optical filter system may be used in the future to detect impurities in the jet, such as oxygen molecules, which affect the accuracy of the polarization measurements.

Absolute Polarization Measurements at RHIC in the Coulomb Nuclear Interference Region

The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory provides polarized proton beams for the investigation of the nucleon spin structure. For polarimetry, carbon‐proton and proton‐proton scattering is used in the Coulomb nuclear interference region at small momentum transfer (−t). Fast polarization measurements of each beam are carried out with carbon fiber targets at several times during an accelerator store. A polarized hydrogen gas jet target is needed for absolute normalization over multiple stores, while the target polarization is constantly monitored in a Breit‐Rabi polarimeter. In 2005, the jet polarimeter has been used with both RHIC beams. We present results from the jet polarimeter including a detailed analysis of background contributions to asymmetries and to the beam polarization.