S. Hancock

TIGRE: A MATLAB-GPU toolbox for CBCT image reconstruction

In this article the Tomographic Iterative GPU-based Reconstruction (TIGRE) Toolbox, a MATLAB/CUDA toolbox for fast and accurate 3D x-ray image reconstruction, is presented. One of the key features is the implementation of a wide variety of iterative algorithms as well as FDK, including a range of algorithms in the SART family, the Krylov subspace family and a range of methods using total variation regularization. Additionally, the toolbox has GPU-accelerated projection and back projection using the latest techniques and it has a modular design that facilitates the implementation of new algorithms. We present an overview of the structure and techniques used in the creation of the toolbox, together with two usage examples. The TIGRE Toolbox is released under an open source licence, encouraging people to contribute.

Performance potential of the injectors after LS1

The main upgrades of the injector chain in the framework of the LIU Project will only be implemented in the second long shutdown (LS2), in particular the increase of the PSB-PS transfer energy to 2GeV or the implementation of cures/solutions against instabilities/e-cloud effects etc. in the SPS. On the other hand, Linac4 will become available by the end of 2014. Until the end of 2015 it may replace Linac2 at short notice, taking 50MeV protons into the PSB via the existing injection system but with reduced performance. Afterwards, the H− injection equipment will be ready and Linac4 could be connected for 160MeV H− injection into the PSB during a prolonged winter shutdown before LS2. The anticipated beam performance of the LHC injectors after LS1 in these different cases is presented. Space charge on the PS flat-bottom will remain a limitation because the PSB-PS transfer energy will stay at 1.4GeV. As a mitigation measure new RF manipulations are presented which can improve brightness for 25 ns bunch spacing, allowing for more than nominal luminosity in the LHC.

Measurement and reduction of transverse emittance blow-up induced by space charge effects

The CERN PS, as part of the LHC injector chain, will have to keep a high intensity, high brilliance beam for 1.2 s at the injection energy. The transverse particle density will exceed, by a factor of three, the highest currently attained. Careful experimental studies have recently been carried out in the PS to investigate transverse emittance blow-up in such a severe space charge regime. In addition, a new controlled longitudinal blow-up technique has been developed to produce bunches with flat-topped density profiles and, accordingly, reduced peak current. The results achieved so far are presented and discussed.<<ETX>>

The CERN PS complex as part of the LHC injector chain

The delivery of a beam with characteristics appropriate to the filling of the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) proton-proton collider requires that the CERN PS complex provide a beam whose transverse particle density exceeds, by a factor of three, the highest currently attained. The beam dynamics operations and the associated hardware modifications which would be required to achieve this goal are considered. The approach favored involves filling the Proton Synchrotron (PS) with two pulses from the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB) and requires and RF quadrupole (RFQ2) as a preinjector for the linac (LINAC2), an increase of the PSB extraction energy and additional RF systems, both in the PSB and PS.<<ETX>>

LIU: EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE IDEAS

The baseline upgrade scenarios for the injector complex cover the connection of Linac4 to the PSB, the increase of the PSB-PS transfer energy from 1.4 GeV to2 GeV and the major SPS RF upgrade during LS2. The achievable beam characteristics will nonetheless remain below the expectation of the HL-LHC project. Therefore, alternative or additional options like, e.g., special bunch distributions, the use of injection optics optimized for high space charge or extra RF systems will be discussed. The expected beam parameters, possible implementation and impact on beam availability for these more exotic options will be analysed and compared to the LIU baseline plan. Moreover, the potential interest of further batch compression schemes will be evaluated.

Recent Intensity Increase in the CERN Accelerator Chain

Future requests for protons from the physics community at CERN, especially after the start-up of the CNGS experiments in 2006, can only be satisfied by a substantial increase in the SPS beam intensity per pulse. In September 2004 a three-week beam run was dedicated to high intensity; all accelerators in the chain were pushed to their limits to study intensity restrictions and find possible solutions. New record intensities were obtained in the accelerators of the PS & SPS Complex with this type of beam which is different from the nominal LHC beam. The challenges in producing this high-intensity beam are described, together with the measures needed to make it fully operational.

Optics considerations for the PS2

CERN envisages replacing the existing proton synchrotron (PS) with a larger synchrotron (PS2) capable of injecting at higher energy into the SPS. Since it should increase the performance not only of the LHC but also CNGS and other users of beams from CERNs hadron injector complex, the new accelerator must retain much of the flexibility of the present complex. A number of candidate optics, with and without transition crossing, have been evaluated systematically and compared.

Longitudinal coupled-bunch instabilities in the CERN PS

Longitudinal coupled bunch instabilities in the CERN PS represent a major limitation to the high brightness beam delivered for the LHC. To identify possible impedance sources for these instabilities, machine development studies have been carried out. The growth rates of coupled bunch modes have been measured, and modes have been identified using mountain range data. Growth rate estimations from coupled bunch mode theory are compared to these results. It is shown that the longitudinal impedance of the broad resonance curve of the main 10 MHz RF system can be identified as the most probable source. Several modes are driven simultaneously due to the large width of the resonance, which is considered for the analysis.

Fifty years of the CERN Proton Synchrotron : Volume 2

This report sums up in two volumes the first 50 years of operation of the CERN Proton Synchrotron. After an introduction on the genesis of the machine, and a description of its magnet and powering systems, the first volume focuses on some of the many innovations in accelerator physics and instrumentation that it has pioneered, such as transition crossing, RF gymnastics, extractions, phase space tomography, or transverse emittance measurement by wire scanners. The second volume describes the other machines in the PS complex: the proton linear accelerators, the PS Booster, the LEP pre-injector, the heavy-ion linac and accumulator, and the antiproton rings.

Dependence of E-Cloud on the Longitudinal Bunch Profile: Studies in the PS & Extension to the HL-LHC

Recent studies have shown that the prospects for significantly increasing bunch intensities in the LHC for the luminosity upgrade (HL-LHC) may be severely limited by the available cryogenic cooling capacity and the electron-cloud (EC) driven beam instability. However, it is planned that during the HL-LHC era the bunch intensities in the LHC will go up by nearly a factor of two compared to the LHC-design values. This motivates the exploration of additional EC mitigation techniques that can be adopted in addition to those already in place. Preliminary simulations indicated that long flat bunches can be beneficial over Gaussian bunches to reduce the EC build up. Rigorous studies using realistic bunch profiles have never been done. Therefore, we have undertaken an in-depth investigation in the CERN 26 GeV PS to see if we can validate the previous findings and, in particular, if flattening the bunch can mitigate the EC. Here we present the results from dedicated EC measurements in the PS using a variety of bunch shapes and a comparison with simulations. Finally, we investigate if reshaping the bunch profiles using a 2nd harmonic rf cavity can mitigate EC in the HL-LHC.