Linac3 LEBT beam measurements during the 2014-2015 Argon ion run

Between Spring 2014 and Spring 2015, LINAC3 delivered a beam of Argon ions. A campaign of beam studies was launched with the aim of better understanding the present limitations in the machine performance in the framework of the requested intensity goals as defined by the LHC Injectors Upgrade project. Measurements were mostly focused on beam characterization in the low energy part of Linac3 (LEBT), where performance in operation is mostly limited (in terms of beam transmission). Systematic quadrupole scans provided indirect measurement of the beam transverse emittance and were used as input to improve and refine the accelerator and beam description parameters used in simulations. IBSimu studies of beam formation and extraction at the source were interfaced with particle tracking with the 3D code PATH, and the resulting predictions found good validation in the beam measurements taken during this campaign.