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High power proton beam imaging and real-time machine protection

Thomas, C.A. LU ; Adli, E. ; Hansen, E. LU orcid ; Gjersdal, H. ; Kocevar, H. ; Kuriakose, R. ; Mohammednezhad, M. ; Rosengren, K. and Sjobak, K. (2026) In Journal of Instrumentation 21(02).
Abstract
A real-time optical imaging system has been developed and commissioned at the European Spallation Source (ESS) to monitor the high-power proton beam at the tuning beam dump, and provide machine protection. The system employs chromium-doped alumina (Chromox) luminescent screens imaged by radiation-shielded optics and a CMOS camera. Real-time FPGA-based processing extracts beam size and position, detects saturation, and generates machine-protection interlocks within the required pulse period. Thermo-mechanical modelling, benchmarked with ANSYS simulations, has defined safe operational limits for each beam mode and has verified screen survivability under nominal and off-normal conditions. During beam commissioning, the system accurately... (More)
A real-time optical imaging system has been developed and commissioned at the European Spallation Source (ESS) to monitor the high-power proton beam at the tuning beam dump, and provide machine protection. The system employs chromium-doped alumina (Chromox) luminescent screens imaged by radiation-shielded optics and a CMOS camera. Real-time FPGA-based processing extracts beam size and position, detects saturation, and generates machine-protection interlocks within the required pulse period. Thermo-mechanical modelling, benchmarked with ANSYS simulations, has defined safe operational limits for each beam mode and has verified screen survivability under nominal and off-normal conditions. During beam commissioning, the system accurately detected errant beam spots, quantified the photon yield and luminescence lifetime, and proved robust against radiation-induced artefacts. These results confirm that the system meets ESS machine-protection requirements while providing reliable beam diagnostics for routine operation. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Image processing, Instrumentation for particle accelerators and storage rings - high energy (linear accelerators, synchrotrons), Optics
in
Journal of Instrumentation
volume
21
issue
02
article number
P02048
pages
32 pages
publisher
IOP Publishing
ISSN
1748-0221
DOI
10.1088/1748-0221/21/02/P02048
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f2d920de-2920-4cad-942c-6051c4181baf
alternative location
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-0221/21/02/P02048
date added to LUP
2026-03-10 09:35:00
date last changed
2026-06-04 10:17:28
@article{f2d920de-2920-4cad-942c-6051c4181baf,
  abstract     = {{A real-time optical imaging system has been developed and commissioned at the European Spallation Source (ESS) to monitor the high-power proton beam at the tuning beam dump, and provide machine protection. The system employs chromium-doped alumina (Chromox) luminescent screens imaged by radiation-shielded optics and a CMOS camera. Real-time FPGA-based processing extracts beam size and position, detects saturation, and generates machine-protection interlocks within the required pulse period. Thermo-mechanical modelling, benchmarked with ANSYS simulations, has defined safe operational limits for each beam mode and has verified screen survivability under nominal and off-normal conditions. During beam commissioning, the system accurately detected errant beam spots, quantified the photon yield and luminescence lifetime, and proved robust against radiation-induced artefacts. These results confirm that the system meets ESS machine-protection requirements while providing reliable beam diagnostics for routine operation.}},
  author       = {{Thomas, C.A. and Adli, E. and Hansen, E. and Gjersdal, H. and Kocevar, H. and Kuriakose, R. and Mohammednezhad, M. and Rosengren, K. and Sjobak, K.}},
  issn         = {{1748-0221}},
  keywords     = {{Image processing; Instrumentation for particle accelerators and storage rings - high energy (linear accelerators, synchrotrons); Optics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{IOP Publishing}},
  series       = {{Journal of Instrumentation}},
  title        = {{High power proton beam imaging and real-time machine protection}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/21/02/P02048}},
  doi          = {{10.1088/1748-0221/21/02/P02048}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}