Beam Measurements at the CERN SPS Using Interferometric Electro-Optic Pickups

Since 2016 a prototype electro-optic pickup has been installed on the SPS as part of the ongoing development of a high bandwidth electro-optic beam position monitor for the High Luminosity LHC. Following the success of initial beam signal observations with the prototype, improvements of the sensitivity and stability of the pickup have become the main focus of the project. A new concept has been developed which uses an interferometric technique to measure the image field of a passing bunch. One arm of an interferometer passes through an electro-optic lithium niobate crystal, embedded in a pickup, whereas the other arm bypasses. The recombination after the pickup results in an interference pattern that changes as a bunch passes by, due to the electro-optic response of the crystal to the image field. This technique enhances the sensitivity to the field and improves control of the working point. Results from high intensity beams at the SPS are presented. These include a comparison between two different interferometric configurations that were tested on different pickups with similar beam conditions. The stability is assessed by frequency scanning interferometry during beam operation.