High-Intensity Beam Transport Using Nonlinear Optics

虽然粒子加速器最著名的应用与高能物理有关，但其他应用，如癌症治疗和材料处理，正变得越来越重要。自从20世纪30年代的先驱加速器问世以来，粒子可以被加速到的最大能量，即所谓的能量前沿，已经增加了许多数量级。强度边界指的是可以同时加速的粒子数量，尽管许多需要增加粒子通量的应用很重要，但其进展要慢得多。加速更强的粒子束的一个主要限制是当粒子束电流增加时，固有的非线性行为变得相关。已知线性聚焦力可以稳定地传输带电粒子束。这导致了对线性输运系统的强烈依赖，尽管有微弱的非线性元素来纠正各种不可避免的光束非线性。最近的理论工作导致了对传统智慧的根本性反思，传统智慧认为非线性元素本身就是有问题的，并开辟了显著增加强度边界的可能性。智力奖励：该奖项将支持使用马里兰大学电子环（UMER）的独特能力进行实验探索，与模拟相结合，使用强非线性晶格稳定传输强光束的实际演示。本研究计划将利用UMER装置来填补理论猜想与实际实现之间的空白。要做到这一点，就要考察在易于处理的分析处理中所必需的简化假设的许多偏差，而这些偏差在实际实验中是不可避免的。除了促进加速器在新的强度水平下稳定运行的直接好处之外，当较弱的非线性降低性能时，强非线性可能是有益的，这一基本论证可能是对加速器物理学的重要智力贡献。更广泛的影响：在更高强度水平上运行加速器将对材料加工、基于加速器的核能产生和核废料嬗变以及高能物理等领域产生重大影响。除了直接的研究工作外，该项目还将开展加速器相关职业的劳动力培训，培养下一代加速器科学家。PI开展的外展项目还为当地高中生和来自全国各地的本科生创造了研究机会。

While the best-known application for particle accelerators is associated with high-energy physics, other applications such as cancer treatment and materials processing are becoming increasingly important. Since the pioneering accelerators of the 1930s the maximum energy to which particles can be accelerated, known as the energy frontier, has increased many orders of magnitude. The intensity frontier, which refers to the number of particles that can be simultaneously accelerated, has progressed much more slowly, despite the importance of a number of applications that require an increased particle flux. A major limitation to accelerating more intense beams is the inherently nonlinear behavior that becomes relevant when particle beam currents are increased.It is known that linear focusing forces can stably transport a charged particle beam. This has led to a strong reliance on linear transport systems, albeit with weak nonlinear elements to correct for various unavoidable beam nonlinearities. Recent theoretical work has resulted in a fundamental rethinking of the conventional wisdom, which considered nonlinear elements as inherently problematic, and opened the possibility of a significant increase in the intensity frontier.Intellectual Merit:This award will support the use of the unique capabilities of the University of Maryland Electron Ring (UMER) to experimentally explore, in concert with simulation, a practical demonstration of using a strongly nonlinear lattice to stably transport intense beams. The research program will exploit the UMER apparatus to fill the gap between theoretical conjecture and practical realization. This will be accomplished by examining the many deviations from the simplifying assumptions necessary in a tractable analytic treatment, which are inevitable in a real experiment. In addition to the direct benefit of facilitating stable operation of accelerators at new intensity levels, the fundamental demonstration that strong nonlinearities can be beneficial, when weaker nonlinearities degrade performance, could be an important intellectual contribution to accelerator physics.Broader Impacts:Operating accelerators at higher intensity levels will have a substantial impact to areas such as materials processing, accelerator based nuclear energy generation and transmutation of nuclear waste, as well as high-energy physics. In addition to the direct research effort, this program will carry out workforce training in accelerator-related careers, educating the next generation of accelerator scientists. The outreach program carried out by the PI also creates research opportunities for both local high school students and undergraduates from across the country.