Correction of longitudinal errors in accelerators for heavy-ion fusion

Longitudinal space-charge waves develop on a heavy-ion inertial-fusion pulse from initial mismatches or from inappropriately timed or shaped accelerating voltages. Without correction, waves moving backward along the beam can grow due to the interaction with their resistively retarded image fields, eventually degrading the longitudinal emittance. A simple correction algorithm is presented that uses a time-dependent axial electric field to reverse the direction of backward-moving waves. The image fields then damp these forward-moving waves. The method is demonstrated by fluid simulations of an idealized inertial-fusion driver, and practical problems in implementing the algorithm are discussed