Particle-in-cell mode beam dynamics simulation of the low energy beam transport for the SSC-linac injector

A new SSC-linac system （injector into separated sector cyclotron） is being designed in the HIRFL （heavy ion research facility of Lanzhou）. As part of SSC-Linac, the LEBT （low energy beam transport） consists of seven solenoids, four quadrupoles, a bending magnet and an extra multi-harmonic buncher. The total length of this segment is about 7 meters. The beam dynamics in this LEBT has been studied using three-dimensional PIC （particle-in-cell） code BEAMPATH. The simulation results show that the continuous beam from the ion source is first well analyzed by a charge-to-mass selection system, and the beam of the selected charge-to-mass ratio is then efficiently pre-bunched by a multi-harmonic buncher and optimally matched into the RFQ （radio frequency quadrupole） for further acceleration. The principles and effects of the solenoid collimation channel are discussed, and it could limit the beam emittance by changing the aperture size.