Optimisation of the output performance of a high intensity linear electron accelerator

Abstract

The Gent University has a high beam intensity 1.5–15 MeV linear electron accelerator, built primarily for multidisciplinary research with electron and gamma beams. The linac has to deliver, continuously over the whole energy range, intense high quality beams, providing radiation pulses with a wide variety of characteristics (variable repetition rate, pulse length and pulse dose, etc.), but with a high degree of stability and reproducibility. The regulation and control systems necessary to optimise the output of the accelerator are described with regard to the underlying design philosophy and with emphasis on several new implemented features. The resulting performance and operational experience are analysed.