U.S. Particle Accelerator School
U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Education in Beam Physics and Accelerator Technology

Introduction to Accelerator Optics course

Sponsoring University:

University of California San Diego

Course:

Introduction to Accelerator Optics (undergraduate)

Instructors:

Karl Brown, SLAC; David Carey, Fermilab; George Gillespie, G. H. Gillespie Associates, Inc.


This course is an introduction to beam optics in accelerators and to the use of computer programs for its study. First-order charged particle optics will be derived. There will be a tutorial on matrix methods, which will be used throughout the course. After defining the basic magnetic elements (dipoles, quadrupoles and solenoids), various focusing modules, elementary system design and the general principles of beam transport and beamline design will be studied. An introduction to second-order optics and aberrations, beam distribution functions, moment methods, space charge effects and their modeling with envelope equations will be presented. In addition, it will be shown how to extend the matrix algebra to include approximations for modeling electrostatic and radiofrequency components. Students will be provided with a good working knowledge of the TRANSPORT computer program and with an introduction to the use of the TURTLE, TRACE3-D and PARMILA programs. Computer laboratory sessions will contain exercises using transfer matrices, ray-tracing, envelope equations and particle simulations. The course is appropriate for laboratory staff and other professionals interested in acquiring a fundamental understanding of accelerator beamlines and charged particle optics, for undergraduate students in the sciences and engineering and for graduate students in physics and engineering seeking an introduction to accelerator optics. Introductory college physics is required, for example D. Halliday and R. Resnick, Physics for Students of Science and Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, New York. Following completion of the course, students should be able to do design, layouts and analyze the optics of beamlines and linear accelerator sections.