- E. Johnson, K. Biłko, M. Delrieux, L. Esposito, N. Emriskova, M. Fraser, R. Garcia Alia, A. Waets, P. Arrutia Sota: “Beam optics modelling of slow-extracted very high-energy heavy ions from the CERN Proton Synchrotron for radiation effects testing”, in 15th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC 2024), Nashville, TN, USA, 19-24 May 2024, doi:10.18429/JACoW-IPAC2024-THPR30.
Abstract: Testing of space-bound microelectronics plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability of electronics exposed to the challenging radiation environment of outer space. This contribution describes the beam optics studies carried out for the run held in November 2023 in the context of the CERN High-Energy Accelerators for Radiation Testing and Shielding (HEARTS) experiment. It also delves into an investigation of the initial conditions at the start of the transfer line from the CERN Proton Synchrotron (PS) to the CERN High Energy Accelerator Mixed-field (CHARM) facility. Comprehensive optics measurement and simulation campaigns were carried out for this purpose and are presented here. Using a validated optics model of the transfer line, the impact of air scattering on the beam size was quantified with MAD-X and FLUKA, providing valuable insights into the current performance and limitations for Single Event Effects (SEE) testing at CHARM.
- A. Waets, K. Biłko, D. Brethoux, F. Cerutti, N. Charitonidis, M. Delrieux, L. Esposito, M. Durrafourg, M. Fraser,
R. Garcia Alia, E. Johnson, P. Nieminen, F. Ravotti, G. Romagnoli, F. Roncarolo, U. Schneider, J. Tan:
“Heavy ion beam characterization for radiation effects testing at CERN using Monte Carlo simulations and experimental benchmarking”,
in 14th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC 2023), Venice, Italy, 7-12 May 2023,
doi:10.18429/JACoW-IPAC2023-THPM128.
Abstract: The CHIMERA (up to December 2022) and HEARTS (as of January 2023) projects aim to facilitate radiation effects testing of electronics components using heavy ion beams before deployment in harsh radiation environments such as space or high energy accelerators. The required (micro-) electronics reliability assurance testing conditions can be met by using 100 MeV/n - 5 GeV/n Pb ion beams extracted from CERN’s Proton Synchrotron (PS) which have a surface Linear Energy Transfer (LET) range of 10-40 MeV cm2/mg, >1 mm penetration depth in silicon and several cm FWHM beam size. This paper gathers the results from Monte Carlo simulations in FLUKA which were used to understand the transport of ions through the T08 transfer line in the PS East Area, focusing on key effects such as energy straggling, loss of transmission (e.g. through scattering and nuclear fragmentation) and beam size. These calculations served as input for machine development activities and allow us to characterize the radiation field at the testing location, in present and future experimental configurations. The simulation results are compared to instrumentation data obtained during an experimental campaign in November 2022. Potential future upgrades and developments are also discussed.
