Recent advances in the CERN PS impedance model and instability simulations following the LHC Injectors Upgrade project

Transverse instability growth rates in the CERN Proton Synchrotron (PS) are studied thanks to the recently updated impedance model of the machine. Using this model, macroparticle tracking simulations were performed with a new method well-suited for the slicing of short wakes, which achieves comparable performance to the originally implemented method while reducing the required number of slices by a factor of 5 to 10. Furthermore, dedicated beam-based measurement campaigns were carried out to benchmark the impedance model. Until now, beam dynamics simulations based on this model underestimated instability growth rates at injection energy. Thanks to a recent addition to the impedance model, namely the kicker magnets' connecting cables and their external circuits, the simulated instability growth rates are now comparable to the measured ones even when neglecting the impact of the space charge force. Finally, the space charge force is included in simulations and its impact on the instability growth rate and intra-bunch motion is studied.