First observation of intrabeam stripping of negative hydrogen in a superconducting linear accelerator

We report on an experiment in which a negative hydrogen ion beam in the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) linear accelerator was replaced with a beam of protons with similar size and dynamics. Fractional beam loss in the superconducting part of the SNS accelerator was measured to be at least 2×10 ^-5 for the H ^- beam, and it was an order of magnitude lower for the protons. Also beam loss has a stronger dependence on intensity with H ^- than with proton beams. These measurements verify a recent theoretical explanation of unexpected beam losses in the SNS superconducting linear accelerator based on an intrabeam stripping mechanism for negative hydrogen ions. This previously unidentified mechanism for beam loss is important for the design of new high current linear ion accelerators and the performance improvement of existing machines.