CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2006 · 17 citations · 0 references
Open access
Natural SciencesNuclear EngineeringPhysicsNuclear InstrumentationNuclear PhysicsParticle PhysicsAccelerator ArchitectureAccelerator PhysicsCollider PhysicsExotic NucleiHeavy-ion PhysicsNuclear ForcesHadron AcceleratorsHadron Collider PhysicsHeavy-ion AcceleratorsInelastic CollisionsProton-proton CollisionsRotating Beam Dynamics
The LHC, originally a proton‑proton and heavy‑ion collider, is now expected to operate as a proton‑nucleus machine, with future runs planned for p‑Pb, p‑40Ar, and p‑16O collisions, and its two‑in‑one magnet design imposes differing revolution frequencies for the two beams during part of the magnetic cycle. The authors aim to demonstrate that the existing proton and lead‑ion injector chains can be run in tandem to enable these hybrid collisions. They analyze the injector chain operation, beam dynamics, and performance estimates for the proton‑nucleus configuration. Their evaluation shows that the LHC can support proton‑nucleus collisions with acceptable beam dynamics and predicts the collider’s potential performance.
Following its initial operation as a proton-proton (p-p) and heavy-ion ( 208 Pb 82+ - 208 Pb 82+ ) collider, the LHC is expected to operate as a p-Pb collider. Later it may collide protons with other lighter nuclei such as 40 Ar 18+ or 16 O 8+ . We show how the existing proton and lead-ion injector chains may be efficiently operated in tandem to provide these hybrid collisions. The two-in-one magnet design of the LHC main rings imposes different revolution frequencies for the two beams in part of the magnetic cycle. We discuss and evaluate the consequences for beam dynamics and estimate the potential performance of the LHC as a proton-nucleus collider.