Tune resonance phenomena in the SPS and machine protection via fast position interlocking

The Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN with a peak energy of 450GeV is at the top of the LHC preaccelerator-complex. Apart from LHC, SPS is with Tevatron the accelerator with the largest stored beam energy, up to 2.5MJ. The SPS has a known vulnerability to fast equipment failures that led to an uncontrolled loss of a high intensity beam in 2008, which resulted in major damage of a main dipole. The beam loss was caused by a fast tune decrease towards an integer resonance. Simulations and distinct experimental studies provide clear understanding of the beam dynamics at different SPS tune resonances. Diverging closed orbit oscillations, dispersion explosion and abrupt increased beta-beating are the driving effects leading to a complete beam loss in as little as 3 turns (70us). Dedicated experiments of fast failures of the main power converters reveal that the current interlock systems are much too slow for an adequate machine protection. To counteract the vulnerability of the SPS, current research focuses on a new fast position interlock system which is planned to become operational in 2010.