Effects of resonances on halo formation in high-intensity storage rings

Numerical calculations for the Spallation Neutron Source accumulator ring indicate that lattice resonances excited by the space-charge potential can increase a mismatch significantly by deforming the beam distribution in phase space. Hence increased mismatch leads to enhanced envelope oscillations that are driving the 2:1 parametric resonance leading to halo formation, even for initially matched beams. We have observed this behavior for the 2 nu(x) - 2 nu(y) = 0 resonance and for the 4 nu(y) = 23 resonance. This mechanism for halo formation peculiar to rings through resonance driven mismatch is very sensitive to the tunes, which emphasizes the importance of a careful choice of operating point in tune space.