Numerical Studies of Curtain Gas Jet Generation for Beam Profile Monitoring Applications in the Ultra Low Energy Storage Ring*

For beam profile monitoring applications where low beam perturbation together with bi-dimensional imaging is required, ionization monitors based on neutral gas-jet targets shaped into a thin curtain are an interesting option. When integrated in ultra-high vacuum systems, such as in the Ultra-low energy Storage Ring (USR), where local vacuum preservation is of primary concern, such systems present severe difficulties linked to the creation and proper shaping of a high quality gas-jet curtain. In this contribution, investigations into the generation and evolution of the jet with the Gas Dynamics Tool (GDT) software and purpose-written C++ analysis modules are presented. By means of extensive numerical analysis the advantages of a novel nozzle-skimmer system in terms of curtain quality are summarized when compared to traditional axisymmetric gas-jet creation and curtain shaping by means of scrapers. It is also shown that variable nozzle-skimmer geometries allow for modifying the gas-jet characteristics in a wide range, including jet splitting and local density modulation. Finally, the layout of a test stand that will be used for an experimental benchmark of these studies is shown.