BFPP losses and quench limit for LHC magnets

Summary The performance of the LHC as a heavy ion (or proton) collider is limited by a number of physical processes in which beam ions are lost in superconducting magnets, depositing heat that could induce a quench. Bound Free Pair Production BFPP) at the collision point is the most serious process for lead ion beams. This effect is studied quantitatively through simulations of the ion showers in a dipole magnet. An attempt is made to understand the level of energy deposition (from any kind of beam loss) that an LHC dipole magnet can withstand before it quenches. Finally the setup of the LHC beam loss monitor system was simulated in order to see if the present setup is suitable also for ions.