Beam intensity effects in Fermilab Booster synchrotron

Detrimental beam dynamics effects limit the performance of high-intensity rapid cycling synchrotrons (RCSs) such as the 8 GeV proton Fermilab Booster. Here we report the results of comprehensive experimental studies of various beam intensity dependent effects in the Booster. In the first part, we report the dependencies of the Booster beam intensity losses on the total number of protons per pulse and on key operational parameters, such as the machine tunes and chromaticities. Then we cross check two methods of the beam emittance measurements (the MultiWires proportional chambers and the ionization profile monitors). Finally, we used the intensity dependent emittance growth effects to analyze the ultimate performance of the machine in the present configuration, with the maximum space-charge tuneshift parameter $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{Q}_{\mathrm{SC}}\ensuremath{\sim}0.6$, and after its injection energy is upgraded from 0.4 to 0.8 GeV.