• P. Hodgson, C.N. Booth, P.J. Smith
  Sheffield University, Sheffield

The MICE experiment requires a beam of low energy muons to demonstrate muon cooling. A target mechanism has been developed that inserts a small titanium target into the circulating ISIS beam during the last 2ms before extraction. The target mechanism has been in operation in the ISIS beam during 2009 and a large set of useful data has been obtained describing the target's operational parameters. This has allowed the commissioning of the initial section of the MICE beam line and instrumentation, and the close monitoring of target performance. This work describes these target parameters and presents some of the results from operational shifts.

• P. Hodgson, C.N. Booth, P.J. Smith
  Sheffield University, Sheffield
• J.S. Tarrant
  STFC/RAL, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon

The MICE experiment uses a beam of low energy muons to test the feasibility of ionisation cooling. This beam is derived parasitically from the ISIS accelerator at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. A target mechanism has been developed and deployed that rapidly inserts a small titanium target into the circulating proton beam immediately prior to extraction without undue disturbance of the primary ISIS beam. The first target drive was installed in ISIS during 2008 and operated successfully for over 100,000 pulses. A second upgraded design was installed in 2009 and is currently in operation. The technical specification for this upgraded design is given and the motivation for many of the improvements is discussed. In addition possible future improvements to the current design are discussed.