The effect of the beam-beam interaction on spin depolarization in a proton-proton collider has been studied. The employed method is based on a matrix formalism for spin advance and for perturbed betatron particle motion in a ring. Calculations were done for a collider with one interaction point and two installed Siberian Snakes in each ring. A matrix for spin advance after an arbitrary large number of turns is found. Performed study indicates that spin depolarization due to beam-beam collisions is suppressed if the beam-beam interaction is stable and if the operation point is far enough from spin resonances. Meanwhile, in the absence of snakes or under beam-beam instability, spin is a subject of strong depolarization. Analytical estimations are confirmed by results of computer simulations.

• Received 11 February 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.58.1019