Electrostatic field distributions in the Harwell Tandem accelerator

The electrostatic field distributions in the Harwell Tandem accelerator have been precisely calculated using the electrostatics program FINALE. The results indicate that the accelerator which presently has an upper voltage limit of 6.5 MV has the potential to operate at 8 MV. Such an upgrade could be achieved by a modification to the high voltage terminal. Replacement of the existing accelerator tubes with accelerator tubes capable of a gradient of 1.8 MV/m would also be required. The existing stack may also require replacement. The terminal modification itself would reduce the terminal to tank breakdown frequency. (author)