Transnational Access to HiRadMat at SPS

(Work package 5)

QUICK LINKS
How to apply | HiRadMat Website | Publications | Intranet

Description of the infrastructure:

The HiRadMat@SPS facility http://cern.ch/hiradmat/ will use the extracted proton and ion beams from the existing CERN SPS synchrotron in a time-sharing mode. The facility will use an existing fast extraction channel which coupled to a new beam line will transport the high-power short-duration beam from SPS to the test area, where samples of materials will be exposed to beam-induced shock waves for the study of the robustness of accelerator components.

The SPS allows accelerating beams with some 1013 protons to a momentum of 450 GeV/c. For protons, the energy in one pulse can be up to 2.4 MJ with a pulse length of ~7 μs. For heavy ions the beam energy is 177.4 GeV/nucleon (36.9 TeV per ion), the pulse energy up to 28 kJ, and the pulse length about 12 μs. For both protons and ions, the beam spot size at the target position is variable, around 1 mm2.

The implementation studies of the beam line and the test facility are on-going. The installation of the beam line is planned in 2010 and the first half of 2011. After commissioning and an initial running for performance evaluation, the facility will be open to external access. This access is expected in September 2011. The facility is required to become operational in 2011 for tests of materials and collimators.

How to apply for HiRadMat access >>

Description of work:

Modality of access under this project: During several periods of the SPS operational year, windows for experiments with beam will be provided. The dates for these windows will be defined in the framework of the yearly SPS operation scheduling. One experiment is expected to require two beam-hours, possibly in several sequences. Preparation of the experiment and first evaluation of the results will depend on the experiment complexity and will require a few days of presence, up to five.

Support offered under this project: The beam will be provided free of charge to the external users, including support for travel and subsistence expenses related to the stay at CERN. CERN will ensure compliance with CERN regulations for the handling of activated materials: safety inspections before and after tests, special packaging and logistics and handling of wastes. CERN operates the accelerator complex including the SPS and HiRadMat@SPS facility based on a yearly schedule. CERN support includes the basic infrastructure for the experiments (electricity, network connectivity, office space, internet connections, control room, limited technical support for last minute corrections or modifications, etc.), installation of the experiments, preparation of the beams, and the beam operation during the experiments.

Outreach of new users: The web-page http://cern.ch/hiradmat describes the facility, the conditions of access, and the application procedure. Advertising the Transnational Access opened under the project will be also made in physics journals, other web sites and via e-mailing to the particle physics community. The results of the experiments using this facility will be presented to the scientific community on a regular basis in workshops and conferences, in synergy with the dissemination activities of WP2.

Review procedure under this project: The requests from external users will be handled by the senior physicist responsible for the coordination of HiRadMat@SPS. They will be peer-reviewed by an international dedicated panel. If needed, the requests will be submitted to the SPSC, existing international committee making peer reviews of proposed SPS experiments.