High intensity heavy ion beams for exotic nuclei production at GANIL

Abstract

International audienceThe GANIL heavy ion accelerator can be used as a driver for producing exotic beams either by fragmentation of the projectile, or by the ISOL method through the SPIRAL complex. The accelerator was first equipped with several devices for protection against thermal effects and activation. Then tests were carried out to increase the primary beam intensities, especially for projectiles ranging from C to Ar. The goal of 2×1013 pps was obtained with a 75 MeV/n carbon beam extracted from SSC2 for several hours. Losses at extraction limited the Ar intensity to 5×1012 pps, while a 1×1013 pps was aimed at. For some other ion species, substantial increases were obtained, although their use are somewhat limited by weaknesses in the concrete shielding. Detailed results of these tests are discussed. Possible cures to overcome limitations are presented, along with results of simulations concerning the effect of longitudinal space charge forces

Commissioning of SPIRAL, the GANIL Radioactive Beam facility

“…The project is based on the ISOL technique for production of Radioactive Ion Beams (RIB) with post acceleration. Today GANIL produces beams with intensities reaching 6x10 9 to 2x10 13 pps for ions from 238 U to 12 C at energies from 24A to 96A MeV (THI project) [3]. The primary beam accelerated by the GANIL cyclotrons bombards a production target located inside a well shielded area beneath ground level in the machine building.…”