Phase I of the SARAF superconducting RF linac is under operation at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center. The present status of Phase I main components is reported, as well as, the beam operation experience accumulated in 2013-2014. The latter include acceleration of a 2 mA and 1.6 mA CW proton beams at energies of 2 MeV and 3.9 MeV correspondingly and 1 mA pulsed, duty cycle of few %, deuteron beams up to 5.6 MeV. The recent experiments include operation of intense CW proton beams on the liquid lithium target.

An analysis is given of plasma temperature determination methods from self-reversed spectral lines. Apart from Bartels' method a number of other techniques based on various physical plasma models are considered. The general case of an optically thick inhomogeneous plasma is represented by two methods based on the evaluation of a real plasma structure from absorption spectra. An algorithm of restoration of emission and absorption profiles of an optically thin layer is given as well as that of temperature determination by the light source function measured for one or more wavelengths.

This report outlines the status of beam operations at the SARAF accelerator during 2012. Performance of various accelerator subsystems, their limiting factors and the recent improvements are presented. The accumulated experience of proton beam operation is summarized. Future prospects are discussed.

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