The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Cockcroft Institute, Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom
The Optimization of Medical Accelerators (OMA) is the aim of a new pan-European project. As one of the largest initiatives of its kind, OMA joins more than 30 universities, research centers and clinical facilities with industry partners to address the challenges in treatment facility design and optimization, numerical simulations for the development of advanced treatment schemes, and beam imaging and treatment monitoring. This contribution starts with an overview of the project's research into beam diagnostics and imaging. It then presents specific research outcomes from investigations into applying detector technologies originally developed for high energy physics experiments (such as VELO, Medipix) for medical applications; identification of optimum detector configurations and materials for high resolution spectrometers for proton therapy and radiography; ultra-low charge beam current monitors and diagnostics for cell studies using proton beams. Finally, it summarizes the interdisciplinary training program that OMA provides to its 15 Fellows, as well as the wider medical accelerator community.
The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Cockcroft Institute, Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Beams of low energy antiprotons in the keV energy range are very difficult to characterize due to their low intensity of only 107 particles per shot, annihiliation, and low repetition rate. The project AVA (Accelerators Validating Antimatter physics) is an Innovative Training Network within the H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions. It enables an interdisciplinary and cross-sector program on antimatter research across 3 scientific work packages. These cover facility design and optimization, advanced beam diagnostics and novel low energy antimatter experiments. This contribution presents the AVA R&D into beam profile, position and intensity measurements, as well as detector tests which will provide an order of magnitude improvement in the resolution and sensitivity in closely related areas. It also summarizes the interdisciplinary training program that AVA will provide to its 15 Fellows, as well as to the wider antimatter and accelerator communities.
WE2AB1
Cockcroft Institute, Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom
GSI, Darmstadt, Germany
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
Cockcroft Institute, Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Cockcroft Institute, Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom
STFC/DL/ASTeC, Daresbury, Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom
The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
Beam Loss Monitors (BLMs) based on optical fibres have been under development for many years as an alternative solution to commonly used methods, such as ionisation chambers. Optical BLMs (oBLMs) maintain standard BLM functionality but can also be used for machine and personal protection. They can be implemented over the entire beam line providing excellent position and time resolution, while being insensitive to radiation induced damage. This contribution describes how oBLMs can also assist in the characterisation of RF cavities during commissioning and operation. It first presents the design principle of highly compact monitors and the underpinning theory for particle loss detection, before discussing data obtained in experimental tests at the electron accelerator CLARA. It then shows how a 4-channel oBLM can be applied for efficient cavity monitoring. Finally, the results are put into a broader context underlying the application potential in accelerators and light sources.
GSI, Darmstadt, Germany
TEMF, TU Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
FSU Jena, Jena, Germany
IPHT, Jena, Germany
HIJ, Jena, Germany
IOQ, Jena, Germany
The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Supracon AG, Jena, Germany
Triggered by the need for current measurement in the nA range for slow extracted beams and for the beams in the storage rings at FAIR and CERN, the idea of the CCC as a current transformer has been revitalized during the last ten years. Compared to the first prototype, developed at GSI in the 90s, the second generation of CCCs is based on the possibility of detailed simulation of superconducting magnetic shielding properties, new nano-crystalline materials for the magnetic ring-cores, and on superior commercially available SQUID systems. In 2014, nA resolution measurements at 2 kHz bandwidth demonstrated the possibility of spill analysis at slow extracted beams from GSI SIS18. In the following year, the first stand-alone CCC system, including a cryostat with separate He liquefier, started operation in the CERN AD. Although the existing systems show an outstanding current resolution, their cost efficiency and robustness, as well as noise and vibration sensitivity can still be improved, which is subject of ongoing research. In this contribution recent results of our CCC tests are shown and future developments are discussed.