U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab course
Sponsoring University:
University of Maryland
Course:
Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab (undergraduate level)
Instructors:
Ying K. Wu and Stepan Mikhailov, Duke University and Juhao Wu, SLAC
Purpose and Audience
The purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the physics and technology of charged particle beams and accelerators. This course is suitable for advanced undergraduate students and entry-level graduate students who are considering accelerator physics as a possible career and for engineers and operators who want to learn more about accelerators and beam physics.
Prerequisites
Courses in College Physics and first year Calculus.
Objectives
This introductory course will focus on the fundamental principles of particle accelerators and beam dynamics. Fundamental physics and technologies of particle acceleration are explored, with emphasis on basic concepts, ideas, and applications found in the field of particle accelerators. On completion of this course, the students are expected to understand the inner works of accelerators and its main components. They are also expected to comprehend basic definitions and fundamental physics principles of charged particle beams and to be able to apply them to explain and analyze experimental observations. Furthermore, the students are expected to be able to perform simple simulations and measurements of basic accelerator components.
Instructional Method
This course will offer a series of lectures during morning sessions, followed by afternoon laboratory sessions. The laboratory sessions will introduce students to computer simulations and measurements of magnets and rf cavities. The lab course will emphasize the comparison of measurement data with computer simulation results. The students will be required to write lab reports and will be graded on them. Homework problems will be assigned each day and instructors will be available to help answer questions about the homework and lectures during the evening exercise sessions and the weekend. There will be a final exam on the last day of the class.
Course Content
Introductory material will include discussions of classical mechanics, special theory of relativity, synchrotron radiation, and the historical development of accelerators. Basic components such as bending and focusing magnets, electrostatic deflectors, beam diagnostics and radio frequency accelerating structures will be described. Comparisons between hadron and electron accelerators will be presented, and examples of modern accelerator facilities will be discussed as well as state-of-the-art accelerator R&D.
Reading Requirements
(to be provided by the USPAS) “Particle Accelerator Physics”, (third edition) Springer-Verlag (2007) by Helmut Wiedemann.
Additional suggested reference that will not be provided: Donald A. Edwards and Michael J. Syphers, "An Introduction to the Physics of High Energy Accelerators," Wiley & Sons Publishers 1993.
Credit Requirements
Students will be evaluated based on performance: final exam (30 % of final grade), homework assignments (40 % of final grade), computer/lab sessions (30 % of final grade).