Lithium and boron beam acceleration through Linac at PLF, Mumbai

The superconducting LINAC booster at PLF has been designed for A=12-60 and has been operational since 2007. Several experiments have been carried out using beams of 12C to35Cl. The QWR cavity is designed for β0=0.1 and hence it is difficult to accelerate lighter beams. Moreover, the low energy buncher system is not suitable for beams lighter than 12C. Due to growing interest in studying light ion (6,7Li, 10,11B) induced reactions on fissile targets at energies higher than the available energy from the Pelletron, we have recently accelerated beams lighter than Carbon. The ion source deck was operated at lower voltage (100-125 KV) for matching lighter beams with low energy buncher. Both 7Li and 11B of E∼5 MeV/A obtained from the Pelletron were accelerated through LINAC to E∼8 MeV/A. The energy gain for individual resonators was found to be consistent with measured field values after correcting for transit time factor. During the acceleration test with these light beams, detail radiation dose mapping of the accelerator area and surrounding area was carried out and found to be well within permissible limits. Thereafter beams were successfully delivered at target stations for experiments with an intensity of 4-8 pnA. (author)