Presentazioni e Articoli Tecnici

Fundamental nuclear physics research and medical isotope production rely on large-scale accelerator facilities such as TRIUMF (Canada) and CERN (Switzerland), where beamtime is highly competitive and costly, limiting opportunities for systematic optimisation studies. In contrast, smaller dedicated test facilities provide a more flexible environment for instrumentation development and testing [1]. The performance of both facility types depends strongly on the design of ion-optical elements, as electric fields directly influence ion beam transport, transmission efficiency, and beam quality. Consequently, efficient ion extraction and transport, together with control of key beam parameters such as emittance and energy spread, are essential for the development of ion beam systems. To support the commissioning of a new test facility, the Ion source Optimisation and Testing Apparatus (IOTA) at the University of Manchester, a simulation-driven design approach based on COMSOL Multiphysics is being used to optimise extraction and transport ion-optical elements prior to manufacture. The simulations employ the Electromagnetics and Charged Particle Tracing modules and include a three-dimensional model of the extraction region, Einzel lenses, a 90 degrees electrostatic bender, and a deceleration stage. Calculated electrostatic fields are then coupled to charged-particle trajectory simulations to model ion transport through the system. The model is used to evaluate key performance metrics, including transmission efficiency, emittance, and energy spread (target value < 10 eV). Parametric studies are performed to identify electrode geometries and voltage settings that maximise transmission while maintaining beam quality, enabling iterative refinement of the beamline design prior to fabrication. This work demonstrates that COMSOL Multiphysics provides an effective framework for the design and optimisation and will support future experimental validation and further refinement of the facility, which follows the broader trend of simulation-driven optimisation of ion transport systems supported by experimental validation [2, 3].