LANSCE Accelerator and Experimental Facilities

LANSCE neutron research facilities include the Lujan Center, Proton Radiography, Isotope Production Facility, Ultracold Neutrons, and the Weapons Neutrons Research Facility.

Beam Schedules

Sole Use Operation at LANSCE

Sole use operation is when beam conditions are such that the Lujan Center (Target 1) cannot receive beam. For example, when PSR beam is transported to Target 2, the 1-L magnet is turned off and beam goes through the dashed line to Target 2. Since the 1-L magnet is not pulsed no beam can go to Target 1.

Another example of sole use operation is when proton beam energies other than 800 MeV are used for Target 2 experiments. In this case, the magnets upstream from the Ring Injection Kicker (RIKI) magnet in the beam line are set for non-800-MeV operation, and since they are the same magnets that are used for transporting beam to Target 1, Target 1 and the Lujan Center cannot be used.

Beam Transport

One of the greatest strengths of the LANSCE facility is that it can produce proton beams with a wide range of time structures.

In usual operation, beam is transported from the LINAC through the pulsed RIKI magnet. When RIKI is switched on, the beam is injected into the storage ring with the time structure. The beam is accumulated in the proton storage ring (PSR) and then transported to Target-1.

When RIKI is switched off, the beam is transported through the "bypass beam line" to Target 2 or Target 4. RIKI switches between macropulses. Typically, 20 macropulses per sec are sent to the Lujan Center and the remainder are delivered to Target 2 or Target 4. Presently, the LINAC is accelerating 60 macropulses per sec so 40 macropulses per sec go to Target 2/4.