What is meant by the term beam spill ?

  • Thread starter Doofy
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In summary: So, in summary, "beam spill" refers to the time period during which the accelerated particles are actually being "spilled" out of the ring.
  • #1
Doofy
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what is meant by the term "beam spill"?

in the context of a beam of particles from an accelerator?
 
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  • #2


Some accelerated particles can hit the walls of the pipe (-> beam spill). If too many particles do that, it is bad for the accelerator.
 
  • #3


mfb said:
Some accelerated particles can hit the walls of the pipe (-> beam spill). If too many particles do that, it is bad for the accelerator.

hmm are you sure? I'm seeing it being quoted in units of time.
 
  • #4


Consider a synchrotron which is being used in "fixed target" mode, not in "collider" mode. You have a circular accelerating ring that gets the particles up to the desired energy. Extending tangentially from the ring is a linear beamline which then branches off to form various subsidiary beamlines for different experiments.

This setup doesn't produce a continuous beam. You inject (usually) protons at low energy into the ring, the ring accelerates them to the desired energy (which takes a few seconds as the magnetic field ramps up to keep the beam contained in the beampipe), and finally a deflecting magnet turns on and "spllls" the contents of the ring into the linear beamline(s). Then you inject a fresh batch of protons into the ring and the cycle repeats.

IIRC "beam spill" refers to the time period during which the accelerated particles are actually being "spilled" out of the ring.
 
  • #5


Doofy said:
hmm are you sure? I'm seeing it being quoted in units of time.
As this is proportional to the number of particles, I would expect this unit. Beam loss in the LHC is usually reported like this - a beam lifetime of 100h means ~1% loss per hour.
 
  • #6
As jtbell says, beam spill is defined as "the removal of a controllable quantity of the particle beam current at a controllable rate onto an adjacent target." See http://www.google.com/patents?id=52xYAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false for the detailed description of a beam spiller.

the Wikipedia article on the OPERA experiment mentions that the proton beam spill used to generate the neutrinos is 10.5 microseconds.
 

Related to What is meant by the term beam spill ?

What is meant by the term "beam spill"?

The term "beam spill" refers to the release of a concentrated stream of particles, such as electrons or protons, from an accelerator or collider. This can occur intentionally during experiments or unintentionally as a result of equipment malfunctions.

What is the purpose of a beam spill in scientific research?

A beam spill allows scientists to study the properties of particles and their interactions with matter. By colliding particles at high energies, researchers can gather valuable data about the fundamental building blocks of the universe and the forces that govern them.

How is a beam spill created?

A beam spill is created by accelerating particles to high energies using an accelerator or collider, and then releasing them in a controlled manner. This can be achieved through various methods such as magnetic fields, electric fields, and radio frequency cavities.

What is the difference between a beam spill and a beam dump?

A beam spill is a controlled release of particles, while a beam dump is an intentional termination of the particle beam. This is usually done for safety reasons, to prevent damage to equipment or to avoid releasing excessive radiation.

What are the potential hazards of a beam spill?

Beam spills can pose safety hazards if not properly controlled. High energy particles can cause radiation exposure, damage to equipment, or even accidental collisions with personnel. Therefore, strict safety protocols are in place to ensure the safe operation of accelerators and colliders.

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