Electron Cloud in the LHC


SPS studies: Latest news
Since 1998/99, beam induced multipacting is observed in the SPS, when operated with the LHC batch. The first evidence was a charge up of the feedback pick ups during the passage of the LHC bunch train. This effect could be reduced by a weak solenoidal field. Further observations include a pressure increase by more than an order of magnitude in most parts of the SPS ring, even for a duty cycle of only a few percent, and a fast instability at injection, or after excitation, which affects the later parts of the bunch train, and can result in beam loss and emittance growth.

EPA irradiation tests: Latest news
Using synchrotron light from the EPA machine (running at 308 MeV, with a critical photon energy of 45 eV, similar to that of LHC at top energy), we have measured the reflectivity for several surface roughnesses and photoelectron yield with a magnetic field up to 0.4 T, obtained by a conventional magnet with field orientation either parallel or perpendicular to the surface of a photocathode placed at the end of a special 4 m long vacuum chamber.

Multipacting tests in a superconducting magnet: Latest news
With a wide-band power amplifier (1-1000 MHz, 100 W) we have excited TEM modes in a 1 m long coaxial structure accomodated in the cold bore of an 8.4 T magnet. The secondary electron yield and its possible reduction by a strong B-field could be inferred from the multipacting level reached under suitable resonance conditions (either for pulsed or CW excitation). Measurements of photoelectron yield are also possible, using UV light from a Xe flash lamp mounted near or inside the coaxial tube.


10/07/2001 Frank.Zimmermann@cern.ch