The Accelerator Upgrade is in its Final Phase

After the New Year break, activities on the new accelerator have continued despite heavy snowfall. The system is now mechanically fully assembled, from the ion sources through the acceleration tube to the beamlines. The vacuum throughout the entire system has also been successfully established at operational conditions. The full accelerating high voltage of 3 MV has been achieved, and its stability has been thoroughly tested. In the coming weeks, precise calibration of the system and full integration into the upgraded control system are planned. The first test proton ion beam is expected by the end of next week, and, barring unforeseen difficulties, the accelerator will be available to the first regular users before the end of January.