G. Raia

Recent developments of the EXCYT project

Abstract The aim of the EXCYT project is to develop a facility for the production and the acceleration of exotic beams up to 8 MeV/amu. The primary beams shall be provided by the now operational K-800 superconducting cyclotron and the exotic ions will be accelerated by a 15 MV Tandem. We will describe the cyclotron source and its axial injection system, the transfer beam line sending the primary beams onto the target and the target-ion source unit. Also we will describe the planned high resolution isobar separator that should allow to perform either nuclear or astrophysical and material science experiments. This separator consists of a pre-separator and two main stages and should provide an overall mass resolving power up to m/Dm ≈ 20000.

A scintillating fibre-based profiler for low intensity ion beams

Abstract In the framework of the EXCYT radioactive ion beams facility, now under development at LNS Catania, we have developed a new beam profile monitor based on a scintillating fibre and a photodetector. Its sensitivity allows the detection of single beam particles in pulse mode, thus representing a useful tool for diagnostics of low and very low intensity beams.

The ISOL exotic beam facility at LNS: the EXCYT project

Abstract The aim of the EXCYT project (EXotics with CYclotron and Tandem) is the development of a facility for producing and accelerating exotic beams from 0.2 up to 8 MeV/amu. EXCYT is based on the “two accelerators” method. A K = 800 Superconducting Cyclotron (CS), axially injected by the ECR ion source SERSE, will deliver the primary beam. Such a beam will produce the required nuclear species in a modified ISOLDE type target-source complex. When required, a 15 MV Tandem Van der Graaff will accelerate the secondary beams. Both accelerators are existing and operational at Laboratorio Nazionale del Sud (LNS). Concerning the status of the project, progress has been made in most of the key issues of the project, like the construction of SERSE, cyclotron upgrading, modification of the existing building, high resolution mass separator, and diagnostic equipment for low energy, low intensity beams.

A SELF-CALIBRATING ION BEAM PROFILER BASED ON A CSI SCINTILLATOR

Abstract We report on the test results obtained with a prototype beam profiler based on a thin slit and a CsI scintillator, read out by means of a compact photomultiplier. Such a device has proven to be suitable to perform ion beam diagnostics at low and very low intensities. In particular, our device is suitable for being used in the energy and intensity ranges expected at the EXCYT radioactive ion beam facility, that is currently under development at LNS Catania.

LOW INTENSITY ION BEAM PROFILING WITH GLASS SCINTILLATING FIBRES

Abstract We report on the test results obtained with a prototype beam profiler based on a glass scintillating fibre and a compact photomultiplier, particularly suitable for the low intensity beam diagnostics needed in the framework of the EXCYT radioactive ion beam facility currently under development at the LNS in Catania.

The EXCYT RIB facility at LNS

EXCYT, a project for a low energy ISOL facility at LNS, has been funded. It is based on two already existing particle accelerators. A K = 800 superconducting cyclotron will deliver the primary beam of ions A ≤ 48, E = 50–80 MeV/amu. After its interaction in a thick target, the negatively ionized radioactive products (A < 80) will be post-accelerated to 0.2–8 MeV/amu by a 15MV SMP tandem. A description of the facility, including the fully redesigned ion optics, an overview of the design problems and the expected secondary beam intensities are presented.

Recent improvements of the tandem facility at LNS

Abstract The Laboratorio Nazionale del Sud (LNS) of Catania is equipped with an upgraded 15 MV SMP tandem that is going to be coupled to a k = 800 supercond

Low-intensity beam diagnostics with particle detectors

The measure of low intensity beams at low-medium energy is one of the major challenge in beam diagnostics. This subject is of great interest for the design of accelerator-based medical and radioactive beam facilities. In this paper we discuss new developments in image-based devices to measure low-intensity beams. All the investigated devices must guarantee measurement of the total beam current and its transverse distribution.

First operations of the LNS heavy ions facility

Abstract A heavy ion facility is now available at Laboratorio Nazionale del Sud (LNS) of Catania. It can deliver beams with an energy up to 100 MeV/amu. The facility is based on a 15MV HVEC tandem and a K = 800 superconducting cyclotron as booster. During the last year, the facility came into operation. A 58Ni beam delivered by the tandem has been radially injected in the SC and then has been accelerated and extracted at 30 MeV/amu. In this paper the status of the facility together with the experience gained during the commissioning will be extensively reported.

Scintillating detectors for low intensity ion beam monitoring

In the framework of the EXCYT radioactive ion beam facility, now under development at LNS Catania, we have developed several devices for beam monitoring. These devices are mainly based on scintillator detectors and photosensors, since they should allow to reconstruct beam informations even when operating at very low intensity, where conventional electrical devices are no longer sensitive. This new class of devices promises to give a good reliability and robustness at a cheap price, and in some case it will also allow counting the beam particles one by one.