First operation of MACSE, the Saclay pilot superconducting electron linac

MACSE, a pilot accelerator, has been built at Saclay in order to fully develop the technology of superconducting electron linacs. It consists of five niobium cavities powered by five klystrons. The 1.5-GHz, 5-cell cavities are equipped with coaxial couplers. The first cavity has a reduced phase velocity to capture the 100-kV electrons coming from the injector. It is followed by a four-cavity cryomodule. The present status and the first beam test are reported, along with some results of superconductivity R&D.<
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