Category: Newsline 2018

First LIPAc Commissioning and Beam Operation Workshop at Rokkasho!!!

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).

Visit of the French Ambassador at Rokkasho on 12/11/2018

On November 12th, 2018, we were honored by the visit of the French Ambassador, his excellency Laurent Pic, and his delegation at Rokkasho. We were given the chance to present the activities performed at the IFERC site…

… followed by a tour focusing on the LIPAc activities. It was explained that these activities are conducted in the frame of the Broader Approach Agreement and the IFMIF/EVEDA Project. Emphasis was given to the substantial contribution from the French institute CEA being a key part of the European contribution.

The “Francophone” working at Rokkasho were given the opportunity to share their experience about living in the north of Japan and working in this international partnership.

The ambassador was favourably impressed by the activities ongoing at Rokkasho under the European – Japanese collaboration and confirmed the strong interest of France in this project.

Before leaving, he promised that he will come back soon to learn more about the progress in the commissioning of the accelerator systems.

Transfer of Ownership between F4E and QST

16 October 2018

On October 16th, 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.

LIPAc operation broadcast LIVE online

On 27 July 2018, from 4pm JST (9am CEST) a special broadcasting took place from LIPAc’s control room, with explanations, interviews to the LIPAc Operation Team staff about the different subsystems and the operational aspects. The engineers from Europe were also interviewed and presented their own institutes and expectations for the future.

http://live.nicovideo.jp/gate/lv314610330

Phase B configuration (stage at 5 MeV with deuterons and 2.5 MeV with protons)

First proton beam into the RFQ

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.

Phase B configuration (stage at 5 MeV with deuterons and 2.5 MeV with protons)

 

Injector LEBT output current~7 mA, Low Power Beam Dump current (LPBD) ~1.9 mA -> about 30% of total transmission

 

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

Injector LEBT output current 7.4 mA, RFQ transmission > 80%

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!!!

The international team of European and Japanese scientists and engineers celebrating this important milestone