Accelerator Physics

Sponsor:

Northern Illinois University

Course Name:

Accelerator Physics

Instructors:

Emilio Nanni, SLAC and Samantha Lewis, Fermilab

Purpose and Audience
Accelerator and beam physics is a broad discipline that draws on concepts from linear and nonlinear mechanics, electrodynamics, special relativity, plasma physics, statistical mechanics, and quantum mechanics. The applications of charged particle accelerators are equally far ranging, including: colliders for high-energy and nuclear physics; light sources for chemistry, materials and biological sciences; isotope production and medical treatment facilities; future energy production; and more. Topics covered will include fundamental concepts of accelerator physics that are both applied in current research facilities and are under development for future applications. This course is designed for graduate students and researchers in physics or engineering who want to learn in more detail about the basic physics of accelerators.

Prerequisites
Courses in classical electricity and magnetism/electrodynamics, classical mechanics, special relativity and mathematical methods for physicsal sciences and engineering, all at a senior undergraduate level, are required. The USPAS course Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab or equivalent familiarity is recommended.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they meet the course prerequisites or have equivalent experience.

Objectives
On completion of this course, the students are expected to understand the physical principles of accelerators, including transverse beam dynamics in periodic and non-periodic focusing systems, resonant RF acceleration, optical insertions, lattice design, and beam dynamics issues related ring and linear machines.  Concepts will be illustrated in the context of high-energy synchrotrons, colliders, and linacs. Design principles of various engineering components of accelerators such as magnets, beam position monitors, and radiofrequency cavities will be explored.

Instructional Method
This course includes a series of lectures (morning and early afternoon) and exercise sessions (late afternoon). Daily homework problems will be assigned which will be completed outside of class and graded.  Solutions to homework problems will be provided and reviewed in the exercise sessions. Instructors will be available for guidance during evening homework sessions. In-class examinations will be given.  Course notes and problems sets will be distributed via a course web site.

Course Content
Principles of beam acceleration and transverse focusing, transverse and longitudinal stability, multipole magnets, beam transport and lattice design, fundamentals of RF cavities, coupled betatron motion, synchrotron radiation, space charge, radiation damping of beam phase-space area and low emittance lattices, collective and beam-beam effects, phase-space cooling, free-electron lasers, and energy recovering linacs.

Reading Requirements
(to be provided by the USPAS) Particle Accelerator Physics (Fourth Edition) by Helmut Wiedemann, Springer, 2015. A pdf of this book is available for free online. A supplemental text (not provided by the USPAS) for the course is: SY Lee, Accelerator Physics, Fourth Edition, (World Scientific, 2019).

Prospective students can prepare for the course in advance and/or evaluate the fit of the course to their goals by reviewing the materials in the last versions of the course given in the winter 2020 USPAS and summer 2021 USPAS sessions.

Credit Requirements
Students will be evaluated based on the following basis: Homework assignments (60% course grade), Midterm exam (20% course grade), Final exam (20% course grade).

USPAS Computer Requirements
There will be no Computer Lab and all participants are required to bring their own portable computer to access online course notes and computer resources.  This can be a laptop or a tablet with a sufficiently large screen and keyboard. Windows, Mac, and Linux-based systems that are wifi capable and have a standard web browser and mouse are all acceptable.  You should have privileges for software installs. If you are unable to bring a computer, please contact uspas@fnal.gov ASAP to request a laptop loan. Very limited IT support and spare loaner laptops will be available during the session.

Northern Illinois University course number: PHYS 790D Special Topics in Physics - Beam Physics
Indiana University course number: Physics 570, Introduction to Accelerator Physics
Michigan State University course number: PHY 963, "U.S. Particle Accelerator School"
MIT course number: 8.790, Accelerator Physics