Hysteresis study techniques and results for accelerator magnets with unipolar current excitation

Using an automated magnet measurement system employing a variety of current excitation ramps, extensive studies of the hysteretic behavior of magnet strength have been carried out. An analytic description which is accurate at better than 0.1% has been achieved. Prescriptions for setting field strength using these formulas will be adequate for multi-energy operation of the Fermilab Main Injector, for deceleration in the Main Injector and Accumulator and for multi-energy operation of various beamline magnets. An overview of this work is provided. Important regularities of the magnet behavior are identified.