China's first intense beam proton linac accelerator has been built at the CAS Institute of High Energy Physics in Beijing, marking major progress in research into accelerator-driven system for developing clean nuclear energy in this country.
The accelerator with a radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) structure was examined at a meeting of expert panel on 23 June. Tests show that its major parameters have reached world advanced level with 3.5MeV output energy, 45 mA peak current, more than 7% duty factor and 3.2 mA average current density.
With a new structure, the RFQ accelerator has many outstanding advantages, according to experts. However, it is very difficult to be manufactured due to the high precision requirements. With the support of Ministry of Science and Technology, the CAS researchers have adopted new schemes in terms of physical design, technological routes, process and assembly techniques. The seminal efforts have scored good results in both saving investment and cutting research time.
The new feat will lay a solid ground for China's development of clean nuclear energy, the construction of the spallation neutron source and proton cancer therapy in this country, according to the panel.
