Effects of a nonlinear damping force in synchrotrons with electron cooling

The longitudinal dynamics of a stored proton beam bunch, under the influence of a nonlinear damping force produced by electron cooling, was studied experimentally. The effect of the nonlinear damping force was explored by varying the relative velocity between the cooling electrons and the stored protons. Maintained longitudinal oscillations developed, which grew rapidly once a critical threshold in the relative velocity was exceeded. The bifurcation of a fixed point into a limit cycle is also known as a Hopf bifurcation. Comparisons of experimental data with numerical simulations and analytical calculations are made. Implications for cooled beam acceleration will be discussed.