In the year since the ARIEL building was constructed, multiple teams across the lab have intensified efforts, continuing to pool expertise and elbow grease towards the design and commissioning of ARIEL’s electron linear accelerator (e-linac). On July 18, 2014 the e-linac project team – including the Super-Conducting Radio-Frequency (SRF) group, Cryogenics group, and e-linac Commissioning team – completed the first acceleration of beam through the e-linac superconducting injector cryomodule to the 10 MeV beam dump.
Bob Laxdal, Deputy Head of the Accelerator Division and Leader of the SRF Group, explained, “The injector cryomodule beam test marks the culmination of six years of research and development into 1.3GHz SRF technology starting with our first single cell test in a mini-cryostat in the ISAC-II clean room. The first 10 MeV section of the linac comprises the full spectrum of the technology required to complete the entire e-linac and represents a strong confirmation of the engineering and science behind the e-linac design.”
The test included the set-up and tuning of the electron gun (e-gun), the low energy transport beamline and buncher, and demonstrated the successful phase lock between the e-gun, buncher and superconducting e-linac cavity that keeps the radiofrequency (rf) synchronized to the beam bunches. Four different energies were accelerated to the dump current monitor with the measured value of each energy in agreement with rf calibrations. The test confirmed the integrity of the cryogenic and rf systems as well as the successful function of the installed e-gun and beam line components.
“This is a highly significant test," said Lia Merminga, co-leader of the ARIEL project. "It demonstrates the solid performance and seamless integration of nearly all e-linac systems, and is the culmination of more than four years of effort on all fronts. It’s now a straight shot to e-linac completion!”
Congratulations!
For more information, please visit the ARIEL website.
Middle photo: Screenshot of the accelerated beam taken at 10 MeV beam dump view screen.
Prepared by Kyla Shauer, Communications Assistant