Overview of CW Electron Accelerator Proposals

Abstract

Electron beams in the MeV to GeV energy range have been used for nuclear studies for the last thirty years. The precision of measurements made using electrons is sufficiently high that they are also now used as starting points for the analysis of data obtained using strongly interacting probes such as pions and protons. Virtually all measurements made to data have been of the inclusive variety. Enhancing the precision of such measurements, through such means as more accurate particle differentiation and improved time resolution, has meant making the duty factor of the beam as high as possible. The global interest in high duty factor electron accelerators has consequently risen. This paper groups both existing and proposed high duty factor accelerators into three categories. The first group covers those involving a pulsed accelerator and a pulse stretcher ring. The second category consists of machines based on the microtron concept. The third group includes the recirculated linac. The current proposals for high duty factor accelerators are divided into two groups: those involving the upgrade of an existing pulsed accelerator and those involving the construction of a new accelerator. The proposals for new accelerators are further categorized into those based on linac pulsemore » stretcher combinations and those based on microtrons. This paper assesses the existing and proposed activities of these facilities as they currently stand at laboratories around the world.« less