FRIB’s Accelerator Systems Division and Conventional Facilities and Infrastructure Division are coordinating efforts and optimizing construction sequencing to install critical components of the FRIB linear accelerator now.

Solid-state radio frequency (RF) amplifiers will provide high-power signals to excite the superconducting resonant cavities, which will accelerate the ion beam. The amplifiers use transistors with high-power density, modulating power supplies to provide high-efficiency operation over a large dynamic range, and a modular design to support future machine upgrades.

Since solid-state components must be maintained and operated during linac operation, the amplifiers have to be installed in FRIB’s surface building, which is under construction now. Power will be transmitted through rigid RF transmission lines which are installed in vertical conduits. Installing the RF transmission lines before the surface building roof allows the lines to be installed in one assembly, reduces many joints and is much faster than waiting until the building is complete. 

So far, 150 of the 220 lines have been installed and tested at a rate of about 10 to 12 per day. Before being placed, the lines are tested on the flatbed of the truck that delivered them. Three flatbeds carrying all of the lines have been received and lines from two have already been installed and tested.