Three-dimensional nonlinear transverse beam dynamics of a radio-frequency quadrupole

A small section of a Radiofrequency Quadrupole accelerator has been analyzed using both a full three-dimensional beam dynamics code and a more conventional beam dynamics analysis approach represented by the code PARMTEQ. Transverse beam-dynamics effects are compared as they were predicted by both approaches. The difference between the approaches is shown as a function of beam current. For beam currents in excess of 100 mA the results would indicate that space-charge/image-charge effects must be treated with detailed calculations