Accelerator
RF conditioning
The RF conditioning of the DTLs is progressing well. Read more about this important milestone here: RF conditioning in progress!
Preparations for the next round of beam commissioning (Ion Source to DTL4 Faraday Cup) are under way. Passing a Safety Readiness Review is a prerequisite for starting beam in April. A pre-step for this is the System Acceptance Review, which is held to validate all systems needed for beam commissioning.
Since the last beam commissioning, additional interfaces have been installed and improvements made to the Machine Protection System. For this reason, a test readiness review was held to make sure all relevant systems are ready for beam.
Cryomodules
Exchange of a damaged cryomodule coupler, taking place inside a recently installed cleanroom in Test Stand 2, was successfully executed. The high-precision, particle-free operation was carried out by staff from French in-kind partner CEA with support from ESS.
Particle-free installation
The cleanroom set up in Test Stand 2 was also used to install the fourth out of a total five Ionising Profile Monitors (IPM) needed for the Superconducting Linac. An IPM, jointly developed by ESS and French in-kind partner CEA, is a device that measures the transverse beam profile and aid operation of the accelerator through Linac Warm Units (LWU). The delicate IPM installation was performed in a particle-free environment by ESS Vacuum Technicians.
Target
Inner shielding
The north and south grid shielding block have been installed in the vessel, adjacent to the port tubes for the instruments' neutron guides.
Next up is, the large double pancake shielding block. Once this is in place, the installation of inserts and plugs to the port tubes can start.
Plugs and inserts
The south sector bunker area is ready for the installation of Neutron Beam Port Inserts and Plugs. Installed equipment within the 12-metre-radius of the Monolith has been temporarily removed and the area cleaned.
Instruments
BIFROST
Cold spectrometer instrument BIFROST will have three choppers placed inside the bunker; one pulse-shaping chopper and two frame overlap choppers. The first of the latter, FOC1, was installed, with FOC2 following in March.
ODIN
The installation of cave shielding walls is soon to start. The red precast blocks will be grouted onto placed pins on the base slab – connected on top by u-shaped steel profiles, fixed with anchors.
TBL
Roof panels for the Test Beamline cave are in place and an entrance gate has been installed.
LOKI
A goods lift has been installed adjacent to the LOKI cave. Next up for LOKI is sample area shielding and the installation of a local crane.
