Speaker
Description
The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN, USA completed the proton power upgrade (PPU) project in 2024 and is operating with 1.7 MW of beam power on target (August 2024). The RF-driven SNS Ion Source produces a ~ 1 ms long H- beam pulse at a 60 Hz pulse repetition rate. The SNS Ion Source utilizes a dual RF system to ignite and maintain a low intensity CW 13.56 MHz plasma (~ 300 W) and to generate a high intensity pulsed 2 MHz plasma (~ 50 kW, 1 ms, 60 Hz). The SNS Ion Source provides a challenging environment for the 2 and 13.56 MHz RF systems which includes HV power supplies (up to 65 kV) and stored energy. Three separate H- Ion Sources are used at the SNS facility; the Front-End production system, the Ion Source Test Stand system, and the Beam Test Facility system. Two different types of pulsed 2 MHz 80 kW RF power amplifiers have been used with the SNS H- Ion Sources; an older tetrode tube unit and a more recent solid state design. This presentation will discuss recent operational experience and lessons learned with the SNS Ion Source tube and solid state 2 MHz RF systems.
