Numerical simulation and optimization of the variable energy 60–1000 MeV proton beams at PNPI synchrocyclotron for testing the radiation resistance of electronics

A universal center for testing electronic components (ECs) for the needs of aviation and space is created in the SC-1000 Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” (PNPI NRC KI). One of the main instruments of these tests is variable energy protons beams. This paper presents Monte Carlo simulation results for a proton beam with energy of 1000 MeV passing through copper and tungsten degraders, and defines the length of these degraders to obtain energies of ~60, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 MeV. Detailed studies of further transmission of the proton beams along the beam line using the copper degrader are accomplished. Basic theoretical parameters for each proton beam, such as the intensity, the energy heterogeneity, beam size, and uniformity of its spatial distribution are obtained.