Simulation using initial 4D beam particle distributions synthesized from experimental data

In experiments exploring the dynamics of intense beams for Heavy Ion Fusion, detailed 2D projections of the beam\´s 4D transverse particle distribution function f (x, y, x\´ ≡ p_x/p_z, y\´ ≡ p_y/p_z) are obtained at a sequence of stations, using moving slits and Faraday cups. These projections do not uniquely specify the 4D distribution, so we use maximum-entropy Monte-Carlo techniques to complete the specification and tomographically "synthesize" an approximation to f. Our initial studies used simulated beam data from a self-consistent 2D simulation of the High Current Experiment (HCX) at LBNL. Runs initiated using a simple "semi-Gaussian" model distribution failed to exhibit an emittance evolution similar to that of the reference case. Initial distributions synthesized from the (simulated) slit scan data yielded much better agreement. We have begun to launch simulations of HCX with initial conditions synthesized from slit-scan diagnostics. We present here the techniques, initial simulation results, initial analysis of new "optical slit" data yielding projections such as f (x, y, x\´), and future plans.