ORNL RAD, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
ORNL, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Linear Accelerator (Linac) delivers a high power proton beam (>1 MW) for neutron production with high neutron availability (>90%). For beam acceleration, the Linac has both normal and super conducting RF sections, with the Super Conducting Linac (SCL) portion providing the majority of beam acceleration (81 of 96 RF cavities are super conducting). Operationally, the goal is to achieve the highest possible beam energy by maximizing SCL cavity RF gradients, but not at the expense of cavity reliability. One mechanism that has negatively impacted both SCL cavity RF gradients and reliability is beam lost into the SCL due to malfunctions of upstream components. Understanding the sources and impacts of errant beam on SCL cavity performance will be discussed.
ORNL, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
The design process, tuning, and operation of high-power linacs are discussed. The inconsistencies between the basic beam physics principles used in the design and the operation practices are considered. The missing components of the beam physics tools for the design and operations are examined, especially for negative hydrogen ions linacs. The diagnostics and online models necessary for tuning and characterization of existing states of the linac are discussed.
THA1WD02
ORNL, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
The future power upgrade and operation parameters of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are discussed. The installation of seven additional superconducting cavities in the existing free space of the linear accelerator will increase the beam energy to 1.3 GeV. More than 95% of the installed ring and transport systems are presently capable of 1.3 GeV operation. Combination of the new beam energy and increasing the average beam current by ~50% will double the accelerator power capability to 2.8 MW. The Mercury spallation neutron target will be upgraded to a capacity of 2.0 MW beam power.