Towards a dedicated high-intensity muon facility

We discuss possible designs for a high-intensity, stand-alone muon source dedicated to and fully optimised for mu SR studies. In particular, we focus upon the potential implementation of a new generation of high-power, but relatively compact and cost effective, proton drivers based on non-scaling fixed-field alternating gradient (ns-FFAG) accelerator technology. Initial considerations suggest that a facility with multiple optimised pion targets, each affording positron count rates approximately two orders of magnitude higher than existing pulsed muon sources, together with the potential of steady state operation at count rates comparable to the best existing sources, should be achievable at reasonable cost. The relative merits of a stand-alone muon facility with respect to those of current facilities which operate in symbiotic mode with other users of the proton driver are highlighted. The outstanding technical issues which must be addressed by both muon scientists and accelerator technologists are also considered. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.