High intensity performance of the Brookhaven AGS

The Brookhaven AGS provides 24 GeV protons for a multi-user program of fixed-target high energy physics experiments, such as the study of extremely rare kaon decays. Up to 7/spl times/10/sup 13/ protons are slowly extracted over 2.2 seconds each 5.1 seconds. The muon storage ring of the g-2 experiment is supplied with bunches of 7/spl times/10/sup 12/ protons. Since the completion of the a 1.9 GeV Booster synchrotron and installation of a new high-power RF system and transition jump system in the AGS various modes of operation have been explored to overcome space charge limits and beam instabilities at these extreme beam intensities. Experiments have been done using barrier cavities to enable accumulation of de-bunched beam in the AGS as a potential path to significantly higher intensities. We report on the present understanding of intensity limitations and prospects for overcoming them.