Medium-energy Electron-Ion Collider Research Articles

Polarization Preservation and Control in a Figure-8 Ring

We present a complete scheme for managing the polarization of ion beams in Jefferson Lab’s proposed Medium-energy Electron-Ion Collider (MEIC). It provides preservation of the ion polarization during all stages of beam acceleration and polarization control in the collider’s experimental straights. We discuss characteristic features of the spin motion in accelerators with Siberian snakes and in accelerators of figure-8 shape. We propose 3D spin rotators for polarization control in the MEIC ion collider ring. We provide polarization calculations in the collider with the 3D rotator for deuteron and proton beams. The main polarization control features of the figure-8 design are summarized.

Superconducting racetrack booster for the ion complex of MEIC

The current design of the Medium-energy Electron-Ion Collider (MEIC) project at Jefferson lab features a single 8 GeV/c figure-8 booster based on super-ferric magnets. Reducing the circumference of the booster by switching to a racetrack design may improve its performance by limiting the space charge effect and lower its cost. We consider problems of preserving proton and deuteron polarizations in a superconducting racetrack booster. We show that using magnets based on hollow high-current NbTi composite superconducting cable similar to those designed at JINR for the Nuclotron guarantees preservation of the ion polarization in a racetrack booster up to 8 GeV/c. The booster operation cycle would be a few seconds that would improve the operating efficiency of the MEIC ion complex.

Innovative applications of genetic algorithms to problems in accelerator physics

The genetic algorithm (GA) is a powerful technique that implements the principles nature uses in biological evolution to optimize a multidimensional nonlinear problem. The GA works especially well for problems with a large number of local extrema, where traditional methods (such as conjugate gradient, steepest descent, and others) fail or, at best, underperform. The field of accelerator physics, among others, abounds with problems which lend themselves to optimization via GAs. In this paper, we report on the successful application of GAs in several problems related to the existing Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility nuclear physics machine, the proposed Medium-energy Electron-Ion Collider at Jefferson Lab, and a radio frequency gun-based injector. These encouraging results are a step forward in optimizing accelerator design and provide an impetus for application of GAs to other problems in the field. To that end, we discuss the details of the GAs used, include a newly devised enhancement which leads to improved convergence to the optimum, and make recommendations for future GA developments and accelerator applications.

An improved transfer map approach to longitudinal beam dynamics

In this paper we present our transfer map approach for studying longitudinal beam dynamics. It combines synchrotron motion mapping equations with Differential Algebraic transfer map extraction. The novel approach can take into account a variety of effects, including non-relativistic effects, arbitrary changes to RF voltage and synchronous phase, as well as nonlinearities and coupling between transverse and longitudinal beam optics. All these are made possible efficiently and accurately, without the need for time consuming element-by-element 6D particle tracking. Moreover, longitudinal space charge effects can be readily treated too. The utility of this approach is demonstrated by applying it to the study of ion beam acceleration in a proposed pre-booster ring of the Medium Energy Electron Ion Collider (MEIC) facility at TJNAF.