DARK CURRENT SIMULATIONS FOR THE CORNELL ERL

Charged particles unintentionally transported through an accelerator, collectively called the dark current, can be lost in the beam chamber and create a radiation hazard for both equipment and personnel. Here we simulate the creation of particles by field emission in the superconducting accelerating cavities of the Cornell Energy Recovery Linac, and track them to their loss points. These lost particles can then be used to simulate background radiation. The presented calculations are therefore an essential step in the design of appropriate radiation-shielding of components around the linac.