Tandem Electrostatic Accelerator Research Articles

On the Relativistic Correction of Particles Trajectory in Tandem Type Electrostatic Accelerator

Abstract A constant potential is applied to the acceleration of the ion-beam in the tandem type electrostatic accelerator. However, not just one voltage is applied, but instead a number of applications can be made in succession by means of the tandem arrangement of high voltage tubes. This number of voltage applications, which is the number of so-called "stages" of a tandem accelerator, may be two, three, or four, depending on the chosen design. Electrostatic field with approximately constant intensity acts on ions in any stage. In general, non-relativistic dynamics is used for the description of the ion transport in tandem accelerator. Energies of accelerated ions are too low and relativistic effects cannot be commonly observed by standard experimental technique. Estimation of possible relativistic correction of ion trajectories is therefore only a matter of calculation. In this note, we briefly present such calculation. Our aim is to show how using the relativistic dynamics modifies the particles trajectory in tandem type accelerator and what parameters determine this modification.

The use of aluminum nitride to improve Aluminum-26 Accelerator Mass Spectrometry measurements and production of Radioactive Ion Beams

We present results and discuss the use of aluminum nitride as a promising source material for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs) science applications of 26Al isotopes. The measurement of 26Al in geological samples by AMS is typically conducted on Al2O3 targets. However, Al2O3 is not an ideal source material because it does not form a prolific beam of Al− required for measuring low-levels of 26Al. Multiple samples of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), aluminum nitride (AlN), mixed Al2O3–AlN as well as aluminum fluoride (AlF3) were tested and compared using the ion source test facility and the stable ion beam (SIB) injector platform at the 25-MV tandem electrostatic accelerator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Negative ion currents of atomic and molecular aluminum were examined for each source material. It was found that pure AlN targets produced substantially higher beam currents than the other materials and that there was some dependence on the exposure of AlN to air. The applicability of using AlN as a source material for geological samples was explored by preparing quartz samples as Al2O3 and converting them to AlN using a carbothermal reduction technique, which involved reducing the Al2O3 with graphite powder at 1600°C within a nitrogen atmosphere. The quartz material was successfully converted to AlN. Thus far, AlN proves to be a promising source material and could lead towards increasing the sensitivity of low-level 26Al AMS measurements. The potential of using AlN as a source material for nuclear physics is also very promising by placing 26AlN directly into a source to produce more intense radioactive beams of 26Al.

Development of a fast voltage control method for electrostatic accelerators

The concept of a novel fast voltage control loop for tandem electrostatic accelerators is described. This control loop utilises high-frequency components of the ion beam current intercepted by the image slits to generate a correction voltage that is applied to the first few gaps of the low- and high-energy acceleration tubes adjoining the high voltage terminal. New techniques for the direct measurement of the transfer function of an ultra-high impedance structure, such as an electrostatic accelerator, have been developed. For the first time, the transfer function for the fast feedback loop has been measured directly. Slow voltage variations are stabilised with common corona control loop and the relationship between transfer functions for the slow and new fast control loops required for optimum operation is discussed. The main source of terminal voltage instabilities, which are due to variation of the charging current caused by mechanical oscillations of charging chains, has been analysed.

A voltage buildup at high-voltage vacuum gaps of a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation

A new type of accelerator, namely, an electrostatic tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation, being distinguished by a high acceleration rate of charged particles and a large surface area of accelerating electrodes, was proposed, manufactured, and put into operation to obtain a proton beam with a 2-MeV energy and a direct current up to 10 mA. The influence of breakdowns on the electric strength of high-voltage components of the accelerator is studied in the work.

Dark currents of a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation

The dark currents flowing in the high-voltage gaps of an electrostatic tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation and the effects associated with their occurrence are investigated. This accelerator, featuring a fast rate of charged particle acceleration and a large surface area of the accelerating electrodes, has been designed to produce a proton beam with an energy of 2 MeV and a constant current of up to 10 mA.

Basic Characteristics of Secondary Electron Emission from Foil Electrodes for New Energy Recovery Scheme of High Energy Ions in an Advanced Fusion

The new energy recovery method using secondary electron emission has been studied in order to improve energy recovery from high energy protons of fusion products in D-3He nuclear fusion generation. The model experiments were performed by using the tandem electrostatic accelerator and the basic characteristics were investigated. According to our results, for penetration aluminum is better as a target material than copper, H+ is better than He2+, and higher energy beam is better which agree with numerical calculations. A qualitative characteristic of secondary electron emission dependence on beam energy was also obtained.

A novel beam focus control at the entrance to the ANU 14UD accelerator

Tandem electrostatic accelerators often require the flexibility to operate at variety of terminal voltages to cater for various user needs. However beam transmission will only be optimal for a limited range of terminal voltages. This paper describes a focussing system that greatly expands the range of terminal voltages for optimal transmission. This is achieved by controlling the gradient of the entrance of the low-energy tube providing an additional controllable focusing element. Up to 150 kV is applied to the fifth electrode of the first unit of the accelerator tube giving control of the tube entrance lens strength. Beam tests to confirm the efficacy of the lens have been performed. These tests demonstrate that the entrance lens control eliminates the need to short out sections of the tube for low terminal voltage operation.

The new 6 MV AMS-facility DREAMS at Dresden

A new 6MV electrostatic tandem accelerator has been put into operation at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). The system is equipped for accelerator mass spectrometry and opens a new research field at HZDR and the Helmholtz Association. It will be also used for ion beam analysis as well as for material modification via high-energy ion implantation. The research activity at the DREsden Accelerator Mass Spectrometry facility (DREAMS) based on a 6MV Tandetron is primarily dedicated to the long-lived radioisotopes of 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, 41Ca, and 129I.DREAMS background levels have been found to be at 4.5×10−16 for 10Be/9Be, 8×10−16 for 26Al/27Al, 3×10−15 for 36Cl/35Cl and 8×10−15 for 41Ca/40Ca, respectively. The observed background of 2×10−13 for 129I/127I originates from intrinsic 129I from AgI produced from commercial KI. The introduction of quality assurance approaches for AMS, such as the use of traceable calibration materials and taking part in interlaboratory comparisons, guarantees high accuracy data for future DREAMS users.During first experiments an energy calibration of the accelerator has been carried out using the nuclear reaction 1H(15N,γα)12C yielding an energy correction factor of 1.019.

Status of ion sources at National Institute of Radiological Sciences

The National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) maintains various ion accelerators in order to study the effects of radiation of the human body and medical uses of radiation. Two electrostatic tandem accelerators and three cyclotrons delivered by commercial companies have offered various life science tools; these include proton-induced x-ray emission analysis (PIXE), micro beam irradiation, neutron exposure, and radioisotope tracers and probes. A duoplasmatron, a multicusp ion source, a penning ion source (PIG), and an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) are in operation for these purposes. The Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) is an accelerator complex for heavy-ion radiotherapy, fully developed by NIRS. HIMAC is utilized not only for daily treatment with the carbon beam but also for fundamental experiments. Several ECRISs and a PIG at HIMAC satisfy various research and clinical requirements.

Cross sections of the 36Ar(d,α)34mCl, 40Ar(d,α)38Cl, and 40Ar(d,p)41Ar nuclear reactions below 8.4MeV

We have measured the cross section for production of the medically interesting isotope (34m)Cl, along with (38)Cl and (41)Ar, using deuteron bombardments of (36)Ar and (40)Ar below 8.4 MeV. ALICE/ASH analytical codes were employed to determine the shape of nuclear excitation functions, and experiments were performed using the University of Wisconsin tandem electrostatic accelerator to irradiate thin targets of argon gas.

Chemical speciation of chlorine in particulate matter by wavelength-dispersive PIXE technique

Chemical speciation of chlorine (Cl) in atmospheric particulate matter (APM) was performed by using a wavelength-dispersive PIXE spectrograph based on high-resolution measurement of Cl-Kβ emission. Samples of atmospheric particles were size-fractioned and collected by a cascade impactor at an urban area in Tokyo. The target position with respect to the spectrograph was precisely adjusted by a 2D laser displacement sensor to achieve high detection efficiency. The samples were irradiated with 2 MeV protons from a tandem electrostatic accelerator. The beam current was 300–500 nA. During the irradiation, the target was cooled by liquid nitrogen to avoid the evaporation of volatile Cl compounds. The measured spectra for the NaCl standard samples clearly showed the Cl-Kβ series composed of the Kβ 1 and the satellite Kβ x, Kβ 5 lines. From the measured X-ray yields, it was found that the chemical speciation of samples with Cl concentrations as low as ≈1% is possible by this method. The Cl-Kβ series were also successfully observed in the case of APM samples with particle sizes of 11.0–2.1 μm. The spectra shapes of the NaCl standard samples and an APM sample were slightly different from each other, because of some possible mixing of non-sea salt component in the APM sample.

Electrostatic design and beam transport for a folded tandem electrostatic quadrupole accelerator facility for accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy

Within the frame of an ongoing project to develop a folded Tandem-Electrostatic-Quadrupole (TESQ) accelerator facility for Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (AB-BNCT), we discuss here the electrostatic design of the machine, including the accelerator tubes with electrostatic quadrupoles and the simulations for the transport and acceleration of a high intensity beam.

Mass spectrometry with accelerators

As one in a series of articles on Canadian contributions to mass spectrometry, this review begins with an outline of the history of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), noting roles played by researchers at three Canadian AMS laboratories. After a description of the unique features of AMS, three examples, (14)C, (10)Be, and (129)I are given to illustrate the methods. The capabilities of mass spectrometry have been extended by the addition of atomic isobar selection, molecular isobar attenuation, further ion acceleration, followed by ion detection and ion identification at essentially zero dark current or ion flux. This has been accomplished by exploiting the techniques and accelerators of atomic and nuclear physics. In 1939, the first principles of AMS were established using a cyclotron. In 1977 the selection of isobars in the ion source was established when it was shown that the (14)N(-) ion was very unstable, or extremely difficult to create, making a tandem electrostatic accelerator highly suitable for assisting the mass spectrometric measurement of the rare long-lived radioactive isotope (14)C in the environment. This observation, together with the large attenuation of the molecular isobars (13)CH(-) and (12)CH 2(-) during tandem acceleration and the observed very low background contamination from the ion source, was found to facilitate the mass spectrometry of (14)C to at least a level of (14)C/C ~ 6 × 10(-16), the equivalent of a radiocarbon age of 60,000 years. Tandem Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, or AMS, has now made possible the accurate radiocarbon dating of milligram-sized carbon samples by ion counting as well as dating and tracing with many other long-lived radioactive isotopes such as (10)Be, (26)Al, (36)Cl, and (129)I. The difficulty of obtaining large anion currents with low electron affinities and the difficulties of isobar separation, especially for the heavier mass ions, has prompted the use of molecular anions and the search for alternative methods of isobar separation. These techniques are discussed in the latter part of the review.

The development of enabling technologies for producing active interrogation beams

A U.S./Russian collaboration of accelerator scientists was directed to the development of high averaged-current (∼1 mA) and high-quality (emittance ∼15 πmm mrad; energy spread ∼0.1%) 1.75 MeV proton beams to produce active interrogation beams that could be applied to counterterrorism. Several accelerator technologies were investigated. These included an electrostatic tandem accelerator of novel design, a compact cyclotron, and a storage ring with energy compensation and electron cooling. Production targets capable of withstanding the beam power levels were designed, fabricated, and tested. The cyclotron/storage-ring system was theoretically studied and computationally designed, and the electrostatic vacuum tandem accelerator at BINP was demonstrated for its potential in active interrogation of explosives and special nuclear materials.

Measurement of the excitation function for the 7Li(t, p)9Li reaction using detection of delayed neutrons

The excitation function for the 7Li(t, p)9Li reaction is measured at the EGP-10 electrostatic tandem accelerator (VNIIEF) at the incident triton energies Et= 5–11.3 MeV. The measurements were based on detection of delayed neutrons resulting from the decay of 9Li nuclei. The neutrons were detected by the 4π detector consisting of 3He counters enclosed in a polyethylene moderator. A pulsed mode was used for irradiating the LiF target (210 μg cm−2) of natural isotopic composition on the tantalum backing. Absolutization of the excitation function was performed against the 7Li(p, n) reaction cross sections.

Study on Composite Material for Shielding Mixed Neutron and $\gamma$-Rays

Optimized lightweight, compact and high temperature sustaining shielding materials for neutron and gamma radiation were developed by genetic algorithms (GA) combined with the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code. A series of samples were designed according to the method. Deep penetration tests by the MCNP code were completed. The results show that the designed samples have more advantages related to the radiation shielding effects in comparison with PB202 and KRAFTON-XP3, especially the Cakes with multi-layers structures of the Fe-interlayer-Pb have excellent performance. Taking into account the ratios designed of components among elements in the material, the manufacturing process of polymer with nano-TiO2 was studied experimentally by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Several samples have been tested. The attenuation experiments on the samples were carried out using tandem electrostatic accelerator neutron source, spontaneous fission neutron source of 252Cf and gamma-rays source of 60Co. The experimental results verify the correctness of optimal design and craft. The Cakes are quite suitable for applications in the practices of nuclear science and technology.

Accelerator mass spectrometry

In this overview the technique of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and its use are described. AMS is a highly sensitive method of counting atoms. It is used to detect very low concentrations of natural isotopic abundances (typically in the range between 10(-12) and 10(-16)) of both radionuclides and stable nuclides. The main advantages of AMS compared to conventional radiometric methods are the use of smaller samples (mg and even sub-mg size) and shorter measuring times (less than 1 hr). The equipment used for AMS is almost exclusively based on the electrostatic tandem accelerator, although some of the newest systems are based on a slightly different principle. Dedicated accelerators as well as older "nuclear physics machines" can be found in the 80 or so AMS laboratories in existence today. The most widely used isotope studied with AMS is 14C. Besides radiocarbon dating this isotope is used in climate studies, biomedicine applications and many other fields. More than 100,000 14C samples are measured per year. Other isotopes studied include 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, 41Ca, 59Ni, 129I, U, and Pu. Although these measurements are important, the number of samples of these other isotopes measured each year is estimated to be less than 10% of the number of 14C samples.

A measuring complex for time-of-flight spectrometry of fast neutrons

A measuring complex for solving problems of fast neutron spectrometry using the time-of-flight method has been developed on the basis of an ЗГП-15 electrostatic tandem accelerator operating in a pulsed mode. The pulse repetition rate of the accelerator is 2.5 MHz, and the pulse duration is τ ≤ 1 ns. The accelerator components, some features of their performance, and their main parameters are described. The complex has been used to investigate the differential neutron emission cross sections for different constructional materials. A method providing the stable performance of its measuring channels has been proposed and tested.

Fast Neutron Facility of KIGAM

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) neutron facility, which is based on an electrostatic tandem accelerator, was designed and has been installed for the production of nuclear data for the structure materials of a fusion reactor. The main nuclear reaction for generating neutron beams is the H(p,n)He reaction. This system generates both DC neutron beams and pulsed neutron beams with energies from 1.4 MeV to 2.6 MeV, which are determined by measuring resonance energies for neutron absorption yields on C and Si and comparing these energies with the resonance energies for total neutron cross sections. Neutron fluxes at these energies were about 10 neutrons/sr/sec based on a MeV neutron activation method on Au. The neutron energy spread (full width at tenth maximum: FW1/10M) at a neutron energy of 2.146 MeV is obtained to be about 220 keV, which is determined using measurements of the neutron flight time.

Precision magnetic quadrupole lens for a nuclear scanning microprobe based on an ÉGP-10 electrostatic tandem accelerator

Basic ideas underlying the design of a precision magnetic quadrupole lens for a nuclear scanning microprobe with a maximal accelerating voltage of 14 MV are set forth. Four magnetic quadrupoles are combined into doublets. The doublets are placed on adjusting gears, which bring the local coordinate system of each lens into coincidence with the laboratory system related to the axis of the beam. Each lens provides a maximal gradient of the field of 0.68 T/cm, which makes it possible to perform stigmatic focusing of the beam with a working distance of 22 cm. All lenses are nonseparable and made of one piece of high-quality electrical steel. A special lens-feeding unit is designed that provides manual and remote control of pole tip excitation.