CERN -- European Laboratory for Particle Physics

Proton Synchrotron Complex

PS Complex Kicker Magnet section

Mandate Magnets Personnel More information Kicker systems parameter Table Publications

Mandate:

Section of the A&B/BT-group responsible for the study, design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of kicker magnet systems in the PS complex.

Kicker Magnets

Purpose of kicker magnets:

Kicker magnets are an essential link in a chain of hardware required for particle beam transfer between different parts of an accelerator complex.
Kicker magnets interact with positively or negatively charged particle beams which, in most cases, are grouped into bunches.
The purpose of an ejection kicker is to fully deflect (kick) bunches, without disturbance to the preceding or following bunches, into the aperture of an ejection septum magnet, the next element in an ejection transfer chain.
An injection kicker will do the inverse, that is, place a particle beam coming from a septum magnet onto an equilibrium trajectory.
Also see the septa magnet section

What are kicker magnets?

Kicker magnets are fast pulsed magnets and are always tailored to their specific application. The transition times between no and full deflection may be as low as a few times 10-8 seconds. There are two basic types of magnets, the so-called transmission line type magnets and the low inductance lumped element magnets.
Essentially, a kicker magnet is pulsed from a special, dedicated, high voltage pulse generator. Parts of the pulse generator are the electronics for controls, timing and protection and surveillance of the system. Gas (SF6) and oil systems, used for insulation and cooling, as well as vacuum tanks, in which most magnets are housed, are also part of the package.

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