Testing Begins on NAL Pre-Accelerator
Cockcroft-Walton accelerator
Pictured above is the Cockcroft-Walton accelerator which will provide the first stage of acceleration in the NAL system.
In the photo can be seen the 750,000 volt d.c. power supply (shown at the left) and an insulated enclosure (at the right) that houses the electronics that operate the ion source.
In the ion source, the protons are formed by ionizing hydrogen gas. These protons are then accelerated from 750,000 volts to ground potential through an accelerating column.
The equipment is contained in a special metal-shielded, air-conditioned room to minimize sparking and prevent electrical interference with other electrical components in the linac building. Testing of this equipment, manufactured by the Haefely Company of Switzerland, started in February.