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

The MICE experiment requires a beam of low energy muons to test muon cooling. This beam is derived parasitically from the ISIS accelerator at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. A novel target mechanism has been developed which allows the insertion of a small titanium target into the proton beam on demand, for the final couple of milliseconds before extraction. The first operational linear drive was installed onto ISIS in January of 2008. Since then, it has operated for over 100,000 actuations. Studies have been performed of particle production and collection by the MICE beam-line, as well as verification of the reliability of the target drive itself. The target data acquisition system records not only the position of the target throughout the ISIS acceleration cycle, but also the outputs from beam loss monitors placed around the synchrotron. Data will be presented showing the stability of the target’s motion and the correlation of beam loss and particle production with the timing and depth of the target’s intersection with the circulating beam.

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

The MICE Experiment requires a beam of low energy muons to demonstrate muon cooling. This beam is derived parasitically from the ISIS accelerator. A novel target mechanism has been developed that inserts a small titanium target into the proton beam on demand. The target remains outside the beam envelope during acceleration and then overtakes the shrinking beam envelope to enter the proton beam during the last 2 ms before beam extraction. The technical specifications for the target mechanism are demanding, requiring large accelerations and precise and reproducible location of the target each cycle. The mechanism operates in a high radiation environment, and the moving parts are compatible with the stringent requirements of the accelerator’s vacuum system. This paper will describe the design of the MICE target and how it is able to achieve its required acceleration whilst still meeting all of the necessary requirements for operation within the ISIS vacuum. The first operational linear electromagnetic drive was installed onto ISIS in January 2008 and has since been operated for over one hundred thousand actuations.