SixTrack for Cleaning Studies: 2017 Updates

SixTrack is a single particle tracking code for simulating beam dynamics in ultra-relativistic accelerators. It is widely used at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) for predicting dynamic aperture and cleaning inefficiency in large circular machines like the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS), the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Future Circular Collider (FCC). The code is under continuous development, to both extend its physics models, and enhance performance. The present work gives an overview of developments, specifically aimed at extending the code capabilities for cleaning studies. They mainly involve: the online aperture check; the possibility to perform simulations coupled to advanced Monte Carlo codes like Fluka or using the scattering event generator of the Merlin code; the generalisation of tracking maps to ion species; the implementation of composite materials of relevance for the future upgrades of the LHC collimators; the physics of interactions with bent crystals. Plans to merge these functionalities into a single version of the SixTrack code will be outlined.