Improvements in bunch coalescing in the Fermilab Main Ring

The authors discuss the improvements in the performance of the bunch coalescing operation in the Fermilab Main Ring which have resulted in increased efficiency and the capability to produce bunches containing more than 10¹¹ protons. The main ring can now produce intense coalesced bunches, although the efficiency decreases as the intensity is increased, apparently due to beam-loading effects. This inefficiency is made acceptable by using the Tevatron superdamper to eliminate unwanted beam. Bunches of twice the design intensity can be achieved, with further improvements possible