Permanent-Magnet Quadrupoles in RFQ Linacs

We investigated the possibility of increasing the current-carrying capability of radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linear accelerators by adding permanentmagnet quadrupole (PMQ) focusing to the existing transverse focusing provided by the rf electric field. Increased transverse focusing would also allow shortening RFQ linacs by permitting a larger accelerating gradient, which is normally accompanied by an undesirable increased transverse rf defocusing effect. We found that PMQs were not helpful in increasing the transverse focusing strength in an RFQ. This conclusion was reached after some particle tracing simulations and some analytical calculations. In our parameter regime, the addition of the magnets increases the betatron frequency but does not result in improved focusing because the increased flutter more than offsets the gain from the increased betatron frequency.