Beam coupling impedance of the main extraction kickers in the CERN PS

In view of the High Luminosity (HL) upgrade of the LHC, the beam intensity must be doubled in the injector chain. To perform reliable beam dynamics simulations, the beam coupling impedance in the injectors, such as the Proton Synchrotron (PS), must be followed closely by including all contributing elements into the impedance model. The existing kicker magnets of the PS had been optimized for large kick strength and short rise/fall times, but not necessarily to minimise beam coupling impedance. Hence, unwanted beam induced voltage can build up in their electrical circuits, with an impact on the beam. The beam coupling impedances of the two main kicker magnets used for the fast extraction from PS, the KFA71 and KFA79, are extensively characterized in this study. In particular, electromagnetic simulation results for the longitudinal and transverse coupling impedance are shown. The critical impedance contributions are identified, and their effect on beam stability with a possible mitigation solution is discussed. Moreover, the impact of the cable terminations on the electromagnetic field pattern and possible mitigation techniques are presented, providing a complete impedance evaluation of the entire kicker installation.