• P. Thieberger, R. Bonati, G.F. Corbin, J.P. Cozzolino, A.K. Jain, G.T. McIntyre, M.G. Minty, C. Montag, J.F. Muratore, C. Schultheiss, S. Seberg, J.E. Tuozzolo
  BNL, Upton, Long Island, New York

We report on recent developments for mitigating vibrations of the quadrupole magnets near the interaction regions of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). High precision accelerometers, geophones, and a laser vibrometer were installed around one of the two interaction points to characterize the frequencies of the mechanical motion. In addition actuators were mounted directly on the quadrupole cryostats. Using as input the locally measured motion, dynamic damping of the mechanical vibrations has been demonstrated. In this report we present these measurements and measurements of the beam response. Future options for compensating the vibrations are discussed.

• M.G. Minty, R.L. Hulsart, A. Marusic, R.J. Michnoff, V. Ptitsyn, G. Robert-Demolaize, T. Satogata
  BNL, Upton, Long Island, New York

For improved reproducibility of good operating conditions and ramp commissioning efficiency, new dual-plane slow orbit feedback during the energy ramp was implemented during run-10 in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The orbit feedback is based on steering the measured orbit, after subtraction of the dispersive component, to either a design orbit or to a previously saved reference orbit. Using multiple correctors and beam position monitors, an SVD-based algorithm is used for determination of the applied corrections. The online model is used as a basis for matrix computations. In this report we describe the feedback design, review the changes made to realize its implementation, and assess system performance.

• M.G. Minty, A.J. Curcio, W.C. Dawson, C. Degen, Y. Luo, G.J. Marr, B. Martin, A. Marusic, K. Mernick, P. Oddo, T. Russo, V. Schoefer, R. Schroeder, C. Schultheiss, M. Wilinski
  BNL, Upton, Long Island, New York

Precision measurement and control of the betatron tunes and betatron coupling in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are required for establishing and maintaining both good operating conditions and, particularly during the ramp to high beam energies, high proton beam polarization. While the proof-of-principle for simultaneous tune and coupling feedback was successfully demonstrated earlier, routine application of these systems has only become possible recently. Following numerous modifications for improved measurement resolution and feedback control, the time required to establish full-energy beams with the betatron tunes and coupling regulated by feedback was reduced from several weeks to a few hours. A summary of these improvements, select measurements benefitting from the improved resolution and a review of system performance are the subject of this report.

• A. Marusic, M.G. Minty, S. Tepikian
  BNL, Upton, Long Island, New York

Chromaticity feedback during the ramp to high beam energies has been demonstrated in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). In this report we review the feedback design and measurement technique. Commissioning experiences including interaction with existing tune and coupling feedback are presented together with supporting experimental data.

• M.G. Minty
  BNL, Upton, Long Island, New York

In this report we present recent experimental data from the Relativistic Heavy ion Collider (RHIC) illustrating effects resulting from of ~ 10 Hz vibrations of the triplet quadrupole magnets in the interactions regions and evaluate the impact of these vibrations on RHIC collider performance. Measurements revealed modulation of the betatron tunes of appreciable magnitude relative to the beam-beam parameter. Comparison of the discrete frequencies in the spectra of the measured beam positions and betatron tunes confirmed a common source. The tune modulations were shown to result from feed-down in the sextupole magnets in the interaction regions. In addition we show that the distortions to the closed orbit of the two counter-rotating beams produced a modulated crossing angle at the interaction point(s).

• K.A. Brown, L. Ahrens, M. Bai, J. Beebe-Wang, M. Blaskiewicz, J.M. Brennan, D. Bruno, C. Carlson, R. Connolly, T. D'Ottavio, R. De Maria, K.A. Drees, W. Fischer, W. Fu, C.J. Gardner, D.M. Gassner, J.W. Glenn, Y. Hao, M. Harvey, T. Hayes, L.T. Hoff, H. Huang, J.S. Laster, R.C. Lee, V. Litvinenko, Y. Luo, W.W. MacKay, M. Mapes, G.J. Marr, A. Marusic, K. Mernick, R.J. Michnoff, M.G. Minty, C. Montag, J. Morris, S. Nemesure, B. Oerter, F.C. Pilat, V. Ptitsyn, G. Robert-Demolaize, T. Roser, T. Russo, P. Sampson, J. Sandberg, T. Satogata, V. Schoefer, C. Schultheiss, F. Severino, K. Smith, D. Steski, S. Tepikian, C. Theisen, P. Thieberger, D. Trbojevic, N. Tsoupas, J.E. Tuozzolo, G. Wang, M. Wilinski, A. Zaltsman, K. Zeno, S.Y. Zhang
  BNL, Upton, Long Island, New York

Since the last successful RHIC Au+Au run in 2007 (Run7), the RHIC experiments have made numerous detector improvements and upgrades. In order to benefit from the enhanced detector capabilities and to increase the yield of rare events in the acquired heavy ion data a significant increase in luminosity is essential. In Run7 RHIC achieved an average store luminosity of <L>=12x10²⁶ cm^-2 s^-1 by operating with 103 bunches (out of 110 possible), and by squeezing to β*=0.8 m. Our goal for this year's run, Run10, was to achieve an average of <L>=27x10²⁶ cm^-2 s^-1. The measures taken were decreasing β* to 0.6 m, and reducing longitudinal and transverse emittances by means of bunched-beam stochastic cooling. In addition we introduced a lattice to suppress intra-beam scattering (IBS) in both RHIC rings, upgraded the RF system, and separated transition crossings in both rings while ramping. We present an overview of the changes and the results in terms of Run10 increased instantaneous luminosity, luminosity lifetime, and integrated luminosity.

• C. Montag, L. Ahrens, M. Bai, J. Beebe-Wang, M. Blaskiewicz, J.M. Brennan, K.A. Brown, D. Bruno, R. Connolly, T. D'Ottavio, K.A. Drees, A.V. Fedotov, W. Fischer, G. Ganetis, C.J. Gardner, J.W. Glenn, H. Hahn, M. Harvey, T. Hayes, H. Huang, P.F. Ingrassia, J.P. Jamilkowski, A. Kayran, J. Kewisch, R.C. Lee, D.I. Lowenstein, A.U. Luccio, Y. Luo, W.W. MacKay, Y. Makdisi, N. Malitsky, G.J. Marr, A. Marusic, M.P. Menga, R.J. Michnoff, M.G. Minty, J. Morris, B. Oerter, F.C. Pilat, P.H. Pile, E. Pozdeyev, V. Ptitsyn, G. Robert-Demolaize, T. Roser, T. Russo, T. Satogata, V. Schoefer, C. Schultheiss, F. Severino, M. Sivertz, K. Smith, S. Tepikian, P. Thieberger, D. Trbojevic, N. Tsoupas, J.E. Tuozzolo, A. Zaltsman, A. Zelenski, K. Zeno, S.Y. Zhang
  BNL, Upton, Long Island, New York

During the second half of Run-9, the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) provided polarized proton collisions at two interaction points with both longitudinal and vertical spin direction. Despite an increase in the peak luminosity by up to 40%, the average store luminosity did not increase compared to previous runs. We discuss the luminosity limitations and polarization performance during Run-9.