The BEAR accelerator

The Beam Experiments Aboard Rocket (BEAR) accelerator is the major component of an experiment designed to demonstrate the operation of an ion accelerator in space and to characterize the exoatmospheric propagation of a neutral particle beam. It is designed to produce a 10-mA (equivalent), 1-MeV, neutral hydrogen beam in 50- mu s pulses at 5 Hz. The accelerator consists of a 30-kV, H/sup -/ injector, a 1-MeV radiofrequency quadrupole, two 425-MHz RF amplifiers, a gas-cell neutralizer, beam optics, a vacuum system, diagnostics, and controls. The design has been constrained by the need for a light-weight rugged system that would operate autonomously. The accelerator has undergone extensive environmental and operational laboratory testing in preparation for launch. The results of testing on the ground test stand are reported.<
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