Comparison between electron cloud build-up measurements and simulations at the CERN PS

The build up of an Electron Cloud (EC) has been observed at the CERN Proton Synchrotron (PS) during the last stages of the LHC high intensity beam preparation, especially after the bunch shortening before extraction. Two dedicated EC experiments, both equipped with two button pick-ups, a pressure gauge, a clearing electrode and a small dipole magnet, are available in two straight sections of the machine. A measurement campaign has been carried out, in order to scan the EC build-up of LHC-type beams with different bunch spacing, bunch intensity and bunch length. Such information, combined with the results from build up simulations, is of relevance for the characterization in terms of Secondary Emission Yield (SEY) of the chamber inner surface. The interest is twofold: this will enable us to predict the EC build up distribution in the PS for higher intensity beams in the frame of the upgrade program, and it will provide validation of the EC simulation models and codes.