The linear accelerator (linac) of the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), which is the electron source and first-stage accelerator of the light source, passed its scientific and technical performance acceptance on June 5. The acceptance committee unanimously recognized the linac performance test results, and all parameters reached or exceeded design specifications. The results show that the linac's overall performance is on the same advanced level as similar scientific facilities worldwide.
According to Professor PAN Weimin, HEPS project manager, the HEPS project headquarters organized the scientific and technical performance test and acceptance of the linac in order to collect suggestions for further improving linac performance, project construction efficiency and the beam commissioning of the booster and storage ring.
The performance test for the linac was completed on May 18 by a group of experts from other institutes and universities. During the on-site testing, the macro-pulse charge reached 7.29 nC, and beam energy stability was 0.014%. A detailed testing outline and a testing report were presented to the acceptance committee.
The acceptance committee comprised 18 experts in the field of accelerator physics and technology, including eight academicians and 10 professors. The committee recognized that the linac’s construction work was highly accomplished. Through independent and integrated innovation, the linac team recorded a series of achievements, such as developing high-level beam commissioning software, cathode-grid assemblies, solid-state modulators based on insulated gate bipolar transistors, and high-gradient accelerating structures. All these achievements ensured the linac’s high performance.
The HEPS project was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. The Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences began construction on the project in June 2019, with a planned construction period of 6.5 years. When completed, HEPS will be one of the brightest fourth-generation synchrotron radiation light sources in the world. It will also be the first high energy synchrotron radiation light source in China.
Performance test for HEPS linac on May 18 (Image by IHEP)
Performance acceptance for HEPS linac on June 5 (Image by IHEP)
Performance acceptance for HEPS linac on June 5 (Image by IHEP)
HEPS linac tunnel (Image by IHEP)