The maintenance period was completed early 2019 and the acceleration of proton beams up to 2.5 MeV was resumed on 20 February. A transmission of 95% through the RFQ was achieved with an input beam current of 7 mA and 0.3 ms pulse length. By using such a beam, the phase tuning of the two bunchers installed in the MEBT was performed successfully. The basic beam diagnostics, beam current monitors (ACCT) and beam position monitors (BPM), were used regularly for beam commissioning, and the beam profile measurement was started by using a non-interceptive device (Fluorescence Profile Monitors) and an interceptive one (Secondary electron emission grid monitors). The latter one is also used to measure the beam emittance with a slit insertion.

After completing the first beam operation stage, and while profiting of the stop of the machine for the scheduled maintenance, the first LIPAc Commissioning and Beam Operation workshop was organized at Rokkasho site.

During 2 days, the accelerator scientists and experts from Japan and Europe exchanged about the experiences and outcomes of the first beam operation campaign with the LIPAc RFQ accelerator, and the difficulties encountered in the LIPAc commissioning activities. Discussions also addressed the preparation of the second beam campaign, scheduled from early next year. Furthermore, the steps ahead were discussed to prepare the assembly, installation and commissioning of the last accelerating stage (including the superconducting cavity SRF Linac, which will increase the deuteron energy up to 9MeV).

The next workshop with a similar format will gather again the LIPAc community after the completion of the commissioning Phase B (5 MeV, 125 mA, D+,0.1% DC, including the commissioning of the RFQ and Buncher cavities, as well as the beam instrumentation).

16 October 2018

On October 16^th, 2018 the transfer of ownership of the Beam Instrumentation, Medium Energy Beam Transport Line and the Radio Frequency Qaudrupole were signed between F4E and QST with the presence of the respective European Voluntary Contributors CEA (Saclay) , CIEMAT (Madrid) and INFN (Legnaro).

This equipment was delivered by the European Voluntary Contributors and transfered to F4E, the EU Implementing Agency of the Broader Approach project, as they were shipped to Rokkasho. The transfers of ownership to QST, the JA Implementing Agency, were cleared out with the recent completion of the individual commissioning of each system.

Follow the link to access the newsline in F4E website

First proton beam injected into the RFQ on 13 June 2018!!!

As a major milestone towards the validation of the IFMIF accelerator design, the first beam has been injected into the RFQ at the LIPAc (Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator) at Rokkasho on 13 June 2018.

After some optimization, on Friday 15 June 2018 more than 80% of transmission in the RFQ was achieved.

This first campaign consisting of the full characterization of the proton beam at low duty cycle,  followed by an increase of the beam current up to 65mA, will last almost 8 weeks, and will be followed by the deuteron beam operation. Besides this important milestone being reached, LIPAc project will have to face other important challenges before the start of the next phase with the assembly of the SRF Linac at Rokkasho site and the installation of the HEBT/BD required to reach the final targeted 9MeV.

Congratulation to the LIPAc Operation Team!!!