Low Energy Accelerator Facility Electron Linear Accelerator: Current Configuration and Applications

Abstract: The linear accelerator, also known as the Linac, initially constructed for Argonne by Applied Radiation Corporation, was installed in 1969. In 1972, a 216 MHz sub-harmonic prebuncher, operating at 1/6 of the accelerator frequency, was added to enable the generation of picosecond pulses. By 1978, this system was replaced with a 1/12 harmonic sub-harmonic prebuncher, significantly increasing the maximum charge of the picosecond pulse by more than fourfold. For four decades, the Linac was extensively utilized for radiation chemistry studies.

In 2010, the accelerator’s mission shifted, becoming a central hub for the development and demonstration of radioisotope production using electron accelerators. To accommodate isotope production, the average beam power was increased to 20 kW, and the maximum energy was elevated to 53 MeV. This energy enhancement was achieved by upgrading from the original traveling wave design of the accelerator structures to a standing wave design. New accelerator structures were fabricated by MEVEX Corporation.

Initially, radioisotope development focused on Mo-99 under NNSA funding. Subsequently, the range of radioisotopes expanded to include Cu-67 and Sc-47. This presentation will explore the current configuration of the Linac facility and its applications in radioisotope research, development and production.

Visitors: Those from outside Argonne who wish to attend in person must contact  accelerator@​anl.​gov to arrange a gate pass.

For more information, please visit the Beams and Applications Seminar webpage.