The Technical challenges of Beta-beams

The beta-beam concept for the production of intense electron (anti-)neutrino beams is now well established. A first feasibility study, made at CERN in 2002, aimed to identify possible showstoppers. The results were very encouraging and the work is now continuing as an integral part of the EU-supported EURISOL Design Study. The first study at CERN is a good starting point for a conceptual design study, but that the annual rate of neutrinos even with a revised parameter list is insufficient. A number of technical challenges must be faced to improve on the annual rate, e.g. target technology for higher beam powers, space charge related limitations in the existing CERN accelerators and activation issues in the CERN PS.