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Linac 4

Linac 4 accelerates negative hydrogen ions, H-, with RF cavities up to about 160 MeV. It delivers short, pulsed packets that are prepared for a cleaner transfer into the PS Booster.

Input

Hydrogen plasma ions from ion source

Process

Linear RF acceleration with focusing lattices and beam diagnostics

Output

H- beam suitable for injection

Energy

160 MeV (input stage)

Interactive simulator

How the beam moves through this stage.

This model shows ion pulses as equal packets and ignores detailed RF phase and timing constraints.

Linac 4 · RF modulesH− · 160 MeV · 86 mRF_1RF_2RF_3RF_4RF_5RF_6RF_7RF_8RF_9RF_10Negative hydrogen ions (H−) ride pulsed RF fields to 160 MeVThe ions stay H− here; electrons are stripped at PS Booster injection.Output → PS Booster
ParticleH-
Energy160 MeV (input stage)
Beam formatpulse
Speed (v / c)51.98%

At this energy the proton travels about 155,818 km/s — 51.98% of the speed of light (c = 299,792 km/s). Each stage of the injector chain pushes it measurably closer to c.

Scale note

Compact linear chain with repeating RF cells

Key terms

RF cavity, and Bunch.

What happens, in order

  1. 01InputHydrogen plasma ions from ion source
  2. 02ProcessLinear RF acceleration with focusing lattices and beam diagnostics
  3. 03OutputH- beam suitable for injection

Key terms: RF cavity, and Bunch.

Quick facts

Technology

Linear accelerator (RF), pulsed beam

simplified reference model

Main role

Source for PS Booster

starts proton injector chain

Particle type

H- ions

Beam format

Pulsed packet

Sources

Where these numbers come from.

Guided tour

Guided learning path

Four steps: follow the beam, see the aftermath, compare with spacetime signals, then test your intuition.

Continue · See the collision aftermath
  1. 01 · You are here

    Follow the beam

    Start with the injector chain so the rest of the site follows a physical sequence.

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  2. 02 · Next

    See the collision aftermath

    See which detectors catch which particles after a collision.

    Open
  3. 03 · Next

    Compare with spacetime signals

    Switch to gravitational waves: tune mass, distance, and noise to find the signal.

    Open
  4. 04 · Next

    Test your intuition

    Short quizzes on accelerator ordering, detector choice, and signal tuning.

    Open