Longitudinal beam optimization of the Argonne superconducting heavy-ion liner accelerator

The various aspects of optimizing the accelerator system in longitudinal phase space are discussed. There are three major components which must be properly adjusted: the buncher system, which must produce a beam bunch of approximately 100 ps FWHM at the entrance to the linac, the linac, which must accelerate the ions while maintaining an undistorted phase ellipse, and the rebuncher/debuncher, which must be optimized to produce either a time focus on target or an improved energy resolution. Optimization of the buncher system and the linac is automatic and under computer control. Rebuncher optimization is only partially computer controlled at this time.