Autofocusing drift tube linac envelopes

Abstract

To date, beam dynamics studies and design of combined zero degree drift tube linac (DTL) structures (Kombinierte Null Grad Struktur; KONUS) have only been carried out in multiparticle codes. Quantities such as the beam envelopes are obtained by averaging over particles, whose tracking is computationally intensive for large bunch populations. Tune computations, which depend on this average, are burdensome to obtain. This has motivated the implementation of a simulation of KONUS DTLs in the code transoptr, whose Hamiltonian treatment of beam dynamics enables the integration of energy gain from the longitudinal electric field on axis while simultaneously elaborating the field in transverse directions to obtain the linear optics. The code also features an in-built space charge capability. The evolution of the beam matrix including longitudinal optics is computed in a reference Frenet-Serret frame through the time-dependent DTL cavity fields. This enables fast envelope simulations for DTLs, resulting in a variable energy sequential tune optimization capability. The implementation methodology and optimization techniques, applicable for any combination of DTL tanks and bunchers, is outlined. Comparisons with the code lorasr, in addition to beam-based E/A measurements of a DTL are presented.