Acceleration of Heavy Ions at the Princeton Particle Accelerator

Modifications to the Princeton Particle Accelerator (PPA) such as pulsed heavy ion source, extended range radiofrequency system, vacuum system improvements, allowed the adaptation of the 3 GeV proton synchrotron to the acceleration of heavier ions. Accele ation of nitrogen ions in a charge state of N5+ and N6+ to an energy of 4 and 7 GeV were achieved starting in July 1971. Present average intensities run at about 3 x 105 and 2 x 105 particles/sec. Expectations for acceleration of neon and argon in the near future will be discussed.