Damage test for International Linear Collider positron generation target at KEKB

Abstract

ILC (International Linear Collider) is aiming to conduct electron-positron collisions at 1 TeV center-of-mass energy. One bunch train will contain up to 2800 3.2 nC bunches with a 308 ns bunch spacing or 5600 1.6 nC bunches with a 154 ns spacing. The bunch-train length will be 0.9 ms. Because of this extremely large amount of beam in a train, serious damage to a positron production target driven by 6 GeV incident electron beam is of concern. As the ILC positron source, several different methods have been proposed. The target hardness is a key point concerning the selection. In this article, we report on a test experiment to examine the target hardness by using a stored electron beam in KEKB HER (High Energy Ring). The project name is IPPAK (ILC Positron Project At KEKB). By manipulating the abort kicker, a condition similar to that of the ILC positron production target can be reproduced. The experiment was carried out on June 29 and 30, 2005. The target was seriously damaged under the heaviest condition (KEKB mode), but the damage was less and nothing for those of the ILC mode. Possible impacts to the ILC positron production scheme are also discussed.