Alexander P Zhukov

JACoW : Open XAL Status Report 2017

The Open XAL accelerator physics software platform is being developed through an international collaboration among several facilities since 2010 The goal of the collaboration is to establish Open XAL as a multi-purpose software platform supporting a broad range of tool and application development in accelerator physics (Open XAL also ships with a suite of general purpose accelerator applications). This paper discusses progress in beam dynamics simulation, interaction with control system and software organization. We present the current status of the project, a roadmap for continued development and an overview of the project status at each participating facility.

Status and Performance of ORNL Spallation Neutron Source Accelerator Systems

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) accelerator systems have been performing continuously and progressively since commissioning in 2006 to deliver the neutrons to beamlines. The 1.4 MW design beam power has been demonstrated during 24/7 operation while developments and investigations for system improvements are still ongoing to achieve the full design beam power and availability. Numerous difficulties that impeded reaching the full performance of the SNS accelerator systems have been identified and are being eliminated through repairs, upgrades, and developments. In this report, operational performance and developments of the accelerator systems are presented along with the efforts for future upgrades of the SNS.

Development and Tests of Beam Test Facility with New Spare RFQ for Spallation Neutron Source

The Beam Test Facility (BTF) has been constructed to validate the performance of the new RFQ, to study ion source improvements, and to support neutron moderator development and six-dimensional phase space measurements for SNS. The BTF includes an Hion source, Radio-Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ), and Medium Energy Beam Transport (MEBT) beam diagnostics systems. A spare RFQ was built and fully RF tested in the BTF and will be installed in the SNS linac in the future. The test stand is ready to run with the Hion beam through the new RFQ to fully validate the RFQ performance. The RFQ was designed to have the beam characteristics identical to the existing RFQ with improved operational reliability and stability. The HRF plasma ion source system includes new high power RF components for improved front-end system performance.

The Spallation Neutron Source Beam Commissioning and Initial Operations

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) accelerator delivers a one mega-Watt beam to a mercury target to produce neutrons used for neutron scattering materials research. It delivers ~ 1 GeV protons in short (< 1 us) pulses at 60 Hz. At an average power of ~ one mega-Watt, it is the highest-powered pulsed proton accelerator. The accelerator includes the first use of superconducting RF acceleration for a pulsed protons at this energy. The storage ring used to create the short time structure has record peak particle per pulse intensity. Beam commissioning took place in a staged manner during the construction phase of SNS. After the construction, neutron production operations began within a few months, and one mega-Watt operation was achieved within three years. The methods used to commission the beam and the experiences during initial operation are discussed.