Simultaneous ion beam profile scan using a single laser source

Abstract

We report on the world’s first experiment of a simultaneous profile scan of the hydrogen ion (H^{-}) beam using a laser wire system. The system was developed and brought to operational level of application at the superconducting linac of the Spallation Neutron Source accelerator complex. The laser wire profile scanner is based on a photodetachment process and therefore can be conducted on a 1-MW neutron production H^{-} beam in a nonintrusive manner. The new simultaneous profile scanning system allows one to simultaneously measure profiles of the H^{-} beam at nine different locations of the linac with high speed and accuracy, and therefore provides a unique tool for accelerator tuning and physics study. This paper describes the design, optical system and software platform developments, and measurement results of the simultaneous profile scanning system.