Preparation of SLS for IBS measurements

It is planned to use the Swiss Light Source (SLS) for testing damping ring issues related to linear colliders. One aspect is the study of Intra-Beam Scattering (IBS) effects, which are a limiting factor for ultra-low emittance rings. In this paper we present the setup and characterization of a new mode of operation in which the SLS runs at lower energy (1.57 GeV) with a natural emittance of 2.4 nm rad. This emittance is more than two times smaller that at the nominal energy of 2.4 GeV and should make IBS effects more easily visible. In order to be able to observe IBS a careful setup is required: Optics measurements and correction as well as measurements of the bunch natural energy spread and the onset of turbulent bunch lengthening. Also, a detailed discussion on the available diagnostics and their limitations are shown and finally some preliminary results of beam emittance measurements, in all three planes, as a function of single bunch current are presented.