New Developments in High Voltage Technology

The electrostatic and electromagnetic straight-line accelerators originated by Robert Van de Graaff for nuclear science have, for very heavy ions, moved toward the GeV level through advances in high voltage technology applied to the multi-stage (tandem) acceleration of multistripped ions. An account is given of the discreet steps in this exponential progress which depends basically on the maximum reliable voltage of one or a series of terminals. Recent studies on compressed gas insulation and on the control of electrical processes within long high-gradient acceleration tubes are described. These indicate the possibility of further substantial increases in terminal and column gradients applicable later to existing accelerators and to enlarged goals for new ones.