U.S. Particle Accelerator School
U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Education in Beam Physics and Accelerator Technology

Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab (undergraduate level)

Sponsoring University:

Michigan State University

Course Name:

Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab
(undergraduate level)

Instructor:

Eric Prebys and Elvin Harms, Fermilab

Purpose and Audience
The purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the physics and technology related to the acceleration and manipulation of charged particle beams. This course is suitable for advanced undergraduate students or students from other fields considering accelerator physics as a possible career. This course also can provide a broader background to engineers and technicians working in the field of accelerator technology.

Prerequisites
Students will be expected to have a level of knowledge equivalent to a standard introductory university course in the following:


It is desirable to have some exposure to vector calculus and differential equations, although the level at which these things are covered in the above courses is generally sufficient.

It's also useful to familiarize yourselves with some of the basic concepts of particle accelerators.  The Fermilab "Concepts Rookie Book" is a good place to start, particulary sections II-IV.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they meet the course prerequisites or have equivalent experience.

Objectives
This course will familiarize students with the physics and technologies associated with the acceleration and transport of charged particle beams, with emphasis on basic relationships, definitions, and applications.  While we will avoid a fully rigorous mathematical treatment, the lecture portion of the course will provide a solid, highly quantitative introduction to the physics of transverse and longitudinal motion in particle accelerators and beam transport lines, in addition to a more qualitative overview of the field as a whole. The complementary lab portion will provide hands on experience with a variety of technologies associated with accelerators.

At the end of the course, students will have a solid, quantitative grasp of the operation of accelerators, at a level sufficient to understand their application to a variety of areas, including fundamental research, materials science, and industrial applications.

Instructional Method
This course is mandated to cover a semester's worth of material in just two weeks, so the pace will be very fast! The course includes a series of lectures during morning sessions, followed by afternoon laboratory sessions which will provide hands-on exploration of magnets, radio-frequency cavities, particle beam instrumentation and measuring devices, as well as computer simulations which reinforce concepts of particle motion and stability. Problem sets will be assigned which will be expected to be completed outside of scheduled class sessions. A common area will be provided for evening homework sessions, where instructors and/or course staff will be available to answer questions.

Course Content
The course will include a fairly rigorous treatment of

In addition, there will be a more qualitative treatment of a wide variety of topics, including


Reading Requirements
The course text will be "An Introduction to the Physics of High Energy Accelerators," Wiley Publishers (1993) by D.A. Edwards and M.J. Syphers (provided by USPAS).  This book is designed for a graduate course, so we will restrict outselves to the early chapters.

You may also want to read  "An Introduction to Particle Accelerators," Oxford University Press (2001) by E.J.N. Wilson for a broader, less rigorous overview of the field.

The course will include material not in the text.  In this case, course notes and/or external references will be provided.

Credit Requirements
The class grade will be based on:

Michigan State University course number:  PHY 405 - 301 - Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab (undergraduate level)
Indiana University course number: Physics 470, Accelerator Fundamentals (undergraduate credit)
MIT course number: 8.277, Introduction to Particle Accelerators