About AOT
Accelerator and Operations Technology

AOT Division provides operations and related support for the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), conducting fundamental and applied research and development needed to improve its operations support efforts. AOT's R&D efforts include

• plasma physics, ion beam generation;
• accelerator physics;
• linear-accelerator-structure engineering, design;
• high-space-charge proton-accumulator/compressor-ring physics;
• beam-transport-lattice physics, engineering;
• particle-beam-diagnostics physics, engineering;
• high- and low-power-radio-frequency-system engineering;
• high-voltage and -current, pulsed-power engineering;
• magnet-power-system engineering;
• mechanical engineering, design (e.g., precision alignment technology);
• high-vacuum engineering, technology;
• analog, digital control systems engineering and in technology based on the experimental physics and industrial control system (EPICS); and
• specialized hydrogen-furnace brazing.

A vital key to AOT's successful performance is our disciplined conduct of operations. Operations personnel undergo a rigorous technical and operational training program to ensure the highest standards of operational performance are met. We also value and rely on our dedicated, professional work force to meet our mission objectives. More about AOT.

LANSCE: The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center

LANSCE is a national user facility comprising five experimental areas and using a high-intensity 800-million-electron-volt (MeV) proton linear accelerator. The accelerator provides beam in distinct pulses, and these pulses can be sorted and directed. Thus, four of the five areas can run experiments simultaneously.

• The Isotope Production Facility uses a 100-MeV proton beam to generate radioisotopes for medical research purposes. The 800-MeV H- ion beam is delivered to four additional major experimental facilities.
• Proton beam delivery through a proton storage ring-a high-peak-intensity accumulator/compressor ring-to the Lujan Neutron Scattering Center's spallation target can provide thermal and cold neutrons to 17 experimental flight paths.
• A micro-pulse proton beam is delivered to the unmoderated spallation target at the Weapons Neutron Research facility for high-energy neutron experiments on seven flight paths.
• Special, temporally tailored beam is delivered to the Proton Radiography facility to acquire time-sequenced images of dynamic or gas-gun driven shock events.
• Finally, high-peak-intensity-proton pulses are delivered, at required intervals, to the Ultracold Neutron facility.

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