Accelerator
Radio-Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) conditioning – which involves sending full RF power to the RFQ cavities in the Accelerator tunnel - starts on Monday 7 June when colleagues from ESS in-kind partner CEA, arrives at ESS from France.
Drift Tube Linac (DTL) tank 1 is now fully tested and a water manifold is mounted on top of the 8-metre-long structure. The plan is to install it in the tunnel in the first part of August – after RFQ conditioning but before beam commissioning.
The first two, fully tested Radio-Frequency Power Stations (RFPS) have been moved to their permanent position in spoke cell 120. The spoke section of the Linac will be powered by 26 tetrode-based RF power amplifiers, which are lower-power units containing both the modulator and tetrodes. These units are delivered as an in-kind contribution from Elettra (Italy) and are thoroughly tested inside test stand 3 before being moved to the cells. Technical installation team from Polish in-kind partner, IFJ PAN will now connect it to the RF waveguide system and subsequently start in-situ power tests.
In the first cell in the medium beta section, where two modulators and four klystrons were previously positioned, four more vertical klystrons are now in place. This is the first fully equipped RF cell in the ESS klystron gallery. Connection to existing infrastructure and subsequently low power tests will follow.
Experimental Halls
Construction of the north sector bunker wall inside Experimental Hall 2 is in progress.
Floor treatment is ongoing in Experimental Hall 1.
In Experimental Hall 3, installation of a local crane for the BIFROST instrument cave was performed this week. Already inside the cave is a spectrometer vacuum vessel that houses both the analyser crystals and the detectors that will allow the scientists to collect the data needed.
Construction of the NMX control hutch, a building with two floors and stairs next to the NMX cave, continues.
Target
Installation of concrete shielding doors are ongoing in the triangular rooms, separating the Target Monolith from the Utility building. Rails are in place on all three levels, with the door for the basement level already having been positioned.
A platform for the shaft cutting station in the Active Cell’s process cell has been installed. In-kind partner, UKAEA, responsible for the remote handling system in Target Active Cells, have also installed a waste transfer system in the narrow corridor between the mock-up and test stand in Transport Hall and the back of the Active Cells. The system consists of rails bolted to the floor and a signal-yellow trolley, that can carry casks of activated waste out of the facility.
Adjustments, painting and cladding continue for the cantilever roof structure surrounding the Target building and the two adjacent short instrument halls.
