Advanced simulation tools for muon-based accelerators

Abstract

High Energy Physics relies on particle accelerators of the highest energy to discover and elucidate the fundamental forces of nature. Electron-positron colliders are limited in center-of-mass energy because of radiative processes. Proton colliders, because of the composite nature of the proton, must have even higher energy and will require enormous amounts of real estate. In contrast, a muon collider ring of up to 6 TeV centerof-mass energy has a radius of ≈1 km. New computational tools are essential for accurate modeling and simulation of the next generation of muon-based accelerator experiments at the energy and intensity frontiers. This article summarizes the current effort in development of new tools based on modern software frameworks and incorporating the most accurate theoretical calculations available. Crucial physics processes specific to muon accelerators are implemented in the set of modeling tools. These include such specialized processes as collective and plasma effects in matter, multiple scattering in high magnetic fields, and the influence of ionization-cooling absorbers on standard collective effects such as space charge and wake fields.