Accelerator
Normal Conducting Linac
In the first part of the accelerator - the normal conducting linac – RF conditioning is under way, which entails sending radio-frequency power at increasing levels to the accelerating components of the linac.
Plasma conditioning in the ion source has restarted and conditioning of the RFQ, the MEBT bunchers and drift tube linac tank 1 (DTL1) will follow.
Meanwhile, in the DTL workshop on the gallery side, all drift tubes for DTL tank 2 have been aligned and are ready for module connections.
Normal Conducting Gallery
This week, Spanish in-kind partner ESS Bilbao and a subcontractor were on site to participate in an upgrade of a circulator for the MEBT amplifier. This is now being reconnected to the RF distribution system, with tests following.
Target
Monolith
The upper and lower parts of the vessel have been sealed with a weld, and right now cleaning of the inner surfaces is ongoing, in preparation for the installation of inner shielding blocks.
The previously installed and welded port tubes are being sealed with a plate.
Cryo Moderator System
A valvebox for the cryogenic moderator system is in place, with pipes connecting to the top floor hydrogen room. More piping will follow also into the connection cell (Monolith), before testing and commissioning of the system can follow.
Experimental Halls
A sleeve for LOKI
The first bunker wall feed-through casing has been installed for the short instrument LOKI in Experimental Hall 2. The sleeve was placed in the opening for the N7 beamline in the north sector of the bunker. This will now be aligned and grouted in position. Installation of the very first part of the neutron guide - the optical feed-through for neutrons - will be installed inside the sleeve.
DREAM
The cave walls and labyrinth entrance are in place and painting has been performed. Shortly installation of the control cabin will follow. It will be built in two floors, using precast concrete blocks.
ODIN
On-site activities will also commence for instrument ODIN, as the installation of a control cabin, sample preparation and storage area is about to commence in Experimental Hall 1 (next to DREAM). The cave base slab for ODIN is to follow in the spring, with the cave structure being erected this summer.
NSS bunker
Electrical infrastructure installations continue inside the west sector bunker. Preparations to lift the first bunker roof elements are under way.
