Electron-positron linear accelerators
Breakthroughs in particle physics are closely related to the availability of electron beams of ever-increasing energy and luminosity. Electron accelerators are also essential to free electron lasers operating in the ultraviolet and X-ray regions. To supply the high brilliance beams used in solid-state physics, as well as in chemistry and biology, 3rd generation synchrotron radiation machines also operate with very intense electron beams.
High-Intensity sources and injectors
High-intensity high-energy linear accelerators, capable of consistently reaching 1 GeV and several tens of milliamps, find numerous applications in nuclear and particle physics, and in condensed matter physics as well. The interaction of a proton beam, accelerated by a Linac of this kind, with a target, enables the production of particles such as radioactive ions, neutrons, neutrinos or muons.
R&D and Instrumentation for Future Accelerators
Any new project presents challenges of its own and generally needs specific R&D. Conversely, it is often the case that breakthroughs in some one particular R&D can profit to several projects. Several lines of R&D specific to accelerators are pursued at SACM: • The improvement of analytic models and development of numerical methods for modelling the particle beams dynamics which has to be adjusted to higher and higher requirements for operating parameters (energy, luminosity, reliability, …).
