The development of computational tools for halo analysis and study of halo growth in the Spallation Neutron Source linear

Computational tools have been developed to quantify the halo in the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) linear accelerator by analyzing beam profiles and identifying the halo particles using the Gaussian area ratio and kurtosis methods. Simulations of various injection quadrupole magnet settings using three types of initial simulated distributions, along with an analysis of their phase space and rms properties, provides insight into the development of halo in the SNS linac. Finally, comparisons with machine beam profile data, taken at the same conditions as that of the simulated data, show how accurately the simulations model the beam and its halo development and provide a better understanding of the best matching quadrupole settings with which to minimize beam halo and losses.