Intensity and Tune Measurement Section (IQ)

Fast Beam Current Transformers

The BI Intensity and Tune Measurement Section develops and maintains all intensity (number of charged particles) and tune (resonant beam oscillations) measurement systems throughout the CERN accelerator complex. We are a multi-cultural team of electronics technicians, engineers and physicists.

The core competencies of the section’s scientific and technical personnel cover a wide area of expertise, including:

  • electromagnetic design and simulations,
  • analogue RF circuits,
  • complex high-speed digital and mixed RF systems,
  • low-noise precision electronics,
  • RF measurement techniques,
  • radiation tolerant designs,
  • firmware development,
  • radiation-tolerant designs,
  • beam instrumentation physics,
  • accelerator physics,
  • materials science and mechanical design,
  • simulation and data analysis.
The SY-BI-IQ section is actively involved in large CERN-wide projects and initiatives:
Video links:

Operational Systems

Intensity measurement systems

A measure of the number of charged particles, from 107 to 1014 charges, in CERN beams.

Two main technologies:

  • Fast Beam Current Transformers
    • Capable of measuring the current of short (picosecond to microsecond) beam pulses
  • DC Beam Current Transformers
    • Capable of measuring the current of DC (i.e. continuous) beams

A crucial measurement that allows machine operators to optimize particle transmission throughout the accelerators in the complex.

References:

OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE LHC BEAM CURRENT TRANSFORMERS

OPTIMIZATION OF THE LHC BEAM CURRENT TRANSFORMERS FOR ACCURATE LUMINOSITY DETERMINATION

BEAM INTENSITY MEASUREMENT IN ELENA USING RING PICK-UPs

Tune measurement systems

A measurement of the frequency and amplitude of resonant beam oscillations. Uses the highly sensitive (in-house developed) BBQ detection concept.

A crucial measurement in terms of beam stability and minimization of losses.