The spallation neutron source accumulator ring RF system

Abstract

The spallation neutron source (SNS) accumulator ring is a fixed-frequency proton storage ring located at the output of the SNS linear accelerator (Linac). Its purpose is to redistribute the 1 millisecond long H-beam pulses from the SNS Linac into high-intensity 695 nanosecond long pulses of protons for delivery to the neutron target. The RF bunching system controls longitudinal beam distribution during the accumulation process and maintains a 250+ nanosecond gap required for beam extraction. The RF system consists of three stations which operate at the beam revolution frequency of 1.05 MHz and a fourth station providing a second harmonic component at 2.1 MHz. The beam pulse at extraction consists of 1.6e14 protons representing a peak beam current of 52 amperes. The system utilizes four 600 kW tetrodes to provide the RF current necessary to produce the 40 kV peak fundamental frequency bunching voltage and to control phase and amplitude at high beam current. A 20 kV peak second harmonic voltage is intended to control longitudinal beam distribution to control the peak circulating current. In this paper we review the design concepts incorporated into this heavily beam-loaded RF system and discuss its commissioning status.