NPBTS-overview and capabilities

The Neutral Particle Beam Test Stand (NPBTS) provides a versatile facility for scientific and engineering studies on large-diameter, low-divergence neutral and charged particle beams. It consists of a linac that accelerates H^- atoms to 50 MeV at 10-12 mA and two experimental areas. Typical pulse widths are 30-150 μs at repetition rates of 0.5-30 Hz. A small RMS-emittance is achieved by using a series of collimators to shave the 1.6-π-mm-mr emittance measured at the output of the linac. Typical current in the experimental areas is 500-600 μA. Experimental area A has been used to study the physics of beam diagnostics and foil neutralization and to measure (p,n) reaction cross sections. Experimental area B has a series of quadrupole objectives built by Los Alamos National Laboratory to reduce beam divergence. Typical beam characteristics are RMS diameters of 10-20 cm and a full-angle divergence (RMS) of 12-24 μr. The facility contains a wide variety of diagnostics including segmented Faraday cups, beam toroids, stripline beam-position monitors, and wire scanners. In addition, several new diagnostic systems for large-diameter beams have been developed by Argonne and Los Alamos National Laboratories