Studies of Nanotube Channeling for Efficient Beam Scraping at Accelerators

Abstract

While particle beam steering (and in particular, "scraping") in accelerators by bent channeling crystals is an established technique extensively tested at IHEP Protvino and other major high-energy labs, an interesting question is how one could improve channeling capabilities by applying modern nanotechnology. Theoretical research of nanotube channeling was in progress over recent years. In this work, we assess potential benefits from nanotube channeling for real accelerator systems. We report simulation studies of channeling in nanostructured material (carbon SWNT and MWNT) tested for possible serving as a primary scraper for the collimation systems of hadron colliders. The advantages of nanostructured material as a potential choice for a primary scraper in a high-energy accelerator such as LHC or the Tevatron are discussed in comparison to crystal lattices and amorphous material. We evaluate physical processes relevant to this application and reveal nanotechnology requirements.