The liquid-hydrogen absorber for MICE

Authors :: Bayliss, V.
Boehm, J.
Bradshaw, T.
Courthold, M.
Harrison, S.
Hills, M.
Hodgson, P.
Ishimoto, S.
Kurup, A.
Lau, W.
Long, K.
Nichols, A.
Summers, D.
Tucker, M.
Warburton, P.
Watson, S.
Whyte, C.
Publication Year :: 2018
Abstract: The Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment (MICE) has been built at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory to demonstrate the principle of muon beam phase-space reduction via ionization cooling. Muon beam cooling will be required at a future proton-derived neutrino factory or muon collider. Ionization cooling is achieved by passing the beam through an energy-absorbing material, such as liquid hydrogen, and then re-accelerating the beam using RF cavities. This paper describes the hydrogen system constructed for MICE including: the liquid-hydrogen absorber, its associated cryogenic and gas systems, the control and monitoring system, and the necessary safety engineering. The performance of the system in cool-down, liquefaction, and stable operation is also presented.<br />Comment: 25 pages, 21 figures, part of the MICE collaboration