Rotating band pion production targets for muon colliders and neutrino factories

An update is presented on a conceptual design for a pion production target station using a rotating cupronickel band and that was originally proposed for use at a muon collider facility with a 4 MW pulsed proton beam. After r eviewing the salient design features and motivations for this target, ongoi ng studies are described that are attempting to benchmark the thermal stres ses and radiation damage on the target band using data from the Fermilab an tiproton source and other operating targets. Possible parameter optimizatio ns and alternative technologies for the rotating band are surveyed, includi ng discussion on the the various proton beam parameters that might be: enco untered for rotating band targets at either muon colliders or neutrino fact ories. Finally, an outline is proposed for a possible R&D path towards capa bility for the actual construction of rotating band pion production targets . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.