Final design of FRIB technical systems is underway and progress in the Accelerator Systems Division was successfully reviewed last week at a meeting of the Accelerator Systems Advisory Committee (ASAC). The committee, which provides external advice to the Project Manager on matters related to accelerator systems, is chaired by Satoshi Ozaki from Brookhaven National Laboratory. ASAC determined that appropriate progress is being made in Accelerator Systems to substantially complete technical design in calendar year 2013.

Results from design and testing activities in several areas were examined. For example, the superconducting RF technology development has focused on cavity mass-production by improving the reliability of the techniques that have been used on the nine ReA3 refurbished cavities have been completed. Cold tests have been successfully conducted for seven of them at the ReA3 specification in its 4.5 K operation (see figure at right). Ongoing testing of the technology demonstration cryomodule and the engineering test cryomodule are priorities, as well as other important subsystem tests including SRF couplers and tuners.