A 6-D Muon Cooling System using Achromat Bends

In order to build a case for future muon colliders or neutrino factories, one must overcome the lack of an experimental demonstration of the principle of ionization cooling of muons ¿ in particular, six dimensional (6D) cooling and emittance exchange. Past work has focused on lattice design, simulation studies, and magnet design for a compact gas-filled storage ring for 6D cooling of muon beams. This project will extend those design results to allow credible injection and extraction of the beam. The basic idea is the incorporation of extended straight sections between achromats in the lattice. A feasibility study for a 6D muon cooling system using achromat bends will be carried out in Phase I for both high pressure gas and LiH absorbers. In particular, Phase I will: (1) determine the preferred lattice of a 6D muon cooling system using achromat bends, which will incorporate the chosen magnet design; (2) evaluate credible beam injection/extraction schemes; (3) study the electron analog model that could be constructed to test the particle dynamics of the system; and (4) investigate possible applications for cooled muon beams outside the high energy physics community. Phase II would involve an engineering design of the electron analog model, and the construction and testing of its component parts. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Cooled beams of muon particles would enable their use in elementary particle physics experiments, in order to advance understanding of the fundamental nature of energy, the elementary constituents of matter, and the forces that control them. A robust, simple, and economical system for cooling ion and particle beams also would have use in ion lasers and medical applications.