Unexpected matching insensitivity in DTL of GTA accelerator

• Published in: Proceedings Particle Accelerator Conference Vol. 2; pp. 1167 - 1169 vol.2
• Main Authors: Yuan, V.W., Sander, O.R., Connolly, R.C., Gilpatrick, J.D., Johnson, K.F., Lysenko, W.P., Rusthoi, D.P., Smith, M., Weiss, R.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1995
• Subjects: Acceleration; Impedance matching; Laboratories; Life estimation; Linear particle accelerator; Particle beams; Position measurement; Radio frequency; Testing; US Department of Energy
• ISBN: 9780780329348; 0780329341
• DOI: 10.1109/PAC.1995.505164

The intertank matching section (IMS) of the Ground Test Accelerator (GTA) contains four variable-field quadrupoles (VFQs) and is designed to match beam exiting the radio-frequency quadrupole to the first tank of the Drift-Tube Linac (DTL-1). By varying the VFQ field strengths to create a range of beam mismatches at the entrance to DTL-1, one can test the sensitivity of the DTL-1 output beam to variations in the DTL-1 input beam. Experimental studies made during commissioning of the GTA indicate an unexpected result: the beam exiting DTL-1 shows little variation for a range of mismatches produced at the entrance. Results of the experiment and simulation studies are presented.