High Intensity Multi-GeV Proton Accelerators

Abstract

For performing many high-energy physics experiments, it is necessary to have high-energy particle beams of very high intensity. The intensity of particle beams in circular proton accelerators in the multi-GeV energy range depends, first, on the number of protons accelerated per pulse and, second, on the number of pulses per second. The number of protons which can be accelerated per pulse is limited by the space charge effects, and the number of pulses per second is limited by the design or type of the accelerator. These intensity limitations and methods of pushing back these limits are discussed. It is now feasible both technologically and economically to construct accelerators in the tens of GeV energy range which will accelerate more than 1014 protons per second.