Research Applications of a High Power Induction Linac

An induction linac offers a number of previously unexploited advantages for research and practical application. It possesses an inherent capability for high pulsed beam currents, large aperture, simple phasing conditions, arbitrary accelerated particle mass, simple multiplexing capability, and high power conversion efficiency. An accelerator is described with the following parameters: pulsed current - 2000 amps, energy - 36 MeV, repetition rate - 180 pps, and pulse width - 60 ns. As an electron accelerator the facility would be a very intense source of pulsed neutrons or γ-radiation. Two possible alternative power systems exist based either on multiple spark-gap switches or on magnetic compression methods. The capability of the facility will be reviewed for programs in neutron scattering for materials science, neutron nuclear science, photonuclear physics, photonuclear activation analysis, radiation processing, and other research. Neutron production targets capable of handling the full 750 keV of beam power will be described.