The 40-year-old Fermilab Proton Source machines, constituted by the Pre-Injector, Linac and the synchrotron Booster, have been the workhorse of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). During this time, the High Energy Physics Program ha
s demanded an increase in proton throughput, especially during the past decade with the beginning of the neutrino program at Fermilab. In order to achieve a successful program, major upgrades and changes were made in Booster. Once again, the Proton Source has been charged to double their beam throughput, while maintain the present residual activation levels, to meet the laboratory Intensity Frontier program goals until new machines are built and operational to replace the Proton Source machines. This paper discusses the present performance of Booster and the plans involved in reaching even higher intensities.
The Fermilab Proton Source machines, constituted by Pre-Injector, conventional Linac and Booster synchrotron, at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) had have a long history of successful beam operations. Built in late 60s, the Fermilab P
roton Source began operations early in the 70s and since then it has successful provided protons to support the laboratory physics experiments. During the past decade, Booster performance reached unprecedented proton flux delivery of the order of 1.0-1.1E17 protons per hour, corresponding to 40 kW of beam power while maintained an allowed upper limit of 525 W of beam loss in the tunnel. In order to achieve this historical performance, major hardware upgrades were made in the machine combined with improvements in beam orbit control and operational awareness. Once again, the Proton Source has been charged to double their beam throughput, while maintaining the present residual activation levels, to meet the laboratory Intensity Frontier program goals until new machines are built and operational to replace them. In this paper we will discuss the plans involved in reaching even higher beam throughput in Booster.
