Six-dimensional weak-strong simulation of head-on beam-beam compensation in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

To compensate the beam-beam tune spread and beam-beam resonance driving terms in the polarized proton operation in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), we will introduce a low energy DC electron beam into each ring to collide head-on with the opposing proton beam. The device to provide the electron beam is called an electron lens. In this article, using a 6D weak-strong beam-beam interaction simulation model, we will investigate the effects of head-on beam-beam compensation with electron lenses on the proton beam dynamics for the RHIC 250 GeV polarized proton operation. Frequency maps, dynamic apertures, and proton beam loss rates are calculated for this study. Key beam parameters involved in this scheme are varied to search for the optimum compensation condition. The sensitivities of head-on beam-beam compensation to beam imperfections and beam offsets are also studied.