Diagnostic Investigation of Tune and Tune Shift in the IPNS RCS

The Intense Pulse Neutron Source (IPNS) Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) accelerates 50 MeV protons to 450 MeV 30 times per second for spallation neutron production. Average current from the RCS has recently exceeded 16 μA with peak instantaneous current approaching 15 A. The RCS makes efficient use of 21 kV of RF accelerating voltage and uses phase-modulation between the two rf cavities to damp vertical instabilities. Split-ring electrodes in the ring suggest an anomalous tune shift that increases with time in the acceleration cycle. Based on a background gas pressure of 1 μTorr, the neutralization time for the beam is approximately 0.5 ms at injection suggesting the beam becomes fully neutralized relatively quickly in the cycle. Over-neutralization of the beam can lead to a positive tune shift that is presumably incoherent. Studies are underway to characterize the ionization within the RCS using the existing Profile and Position System (PAPS) and a newly installed Retarding Field Analyzer (RFA). Also a newly installed fast, deep-memory digitizing oscilloscope allows the entire history of a single acceleration cycle to be recorded from all four components of the split ring electrodes simultaneously at a rate of 250 MS/s.