Low-Energy, High-Current Proton Accelerators at CRNL

During development studies leading to operation of a 300 mA, 10 MeV proton linac in 1990 (the first stage of an accelerator breeder) several 100% duty cycle proton linacs will be built and tested to determine design limitations and operating characteristics. Presently a 750 kV injector and a 270 MHz drift-tube linac are being used to accelerate several mA of protons to 3 MeV in tests of high power operation. The first of the new linacs will be a 75 mA, 600 keV radiofrequency quadrupole structure. After initial operation an improved drift-tube linac will be added to accelerate the beam to 2.5 MeV. All of these 100% duty cycle proton linacs will have beams that could be used for radiation damage, beam diagnostic development, high-current beam-loss damage, beam dump design and transmission studies. The accelerator development program will be described as well as the possible practical uses for the proton beams.