The Diamond linac has now been installed and, following several weeks of radio-frequency (RF) conditioning, has accelerated electrons successfully up to the maximum energy of 100 MeV in single-bunch mode. Work is in progress to optimize the beam and set up the diagnostics instrumentation.
During the commissioning period, Health Physics Group members have been carrying out surveys to verify the linac vault shielding and also checking for activation of linac components. This has provided a good opportunity to evaluate our portable monitors and to see the installed monitors working as part of the Personnel Safety System.
Elsewhere in the synchrotron building, storage ring girders are being installed and the booster cavity is in place. Hutches for all eight Phase 1 beamlines have been completed. Whilst Phase 1 beamlines are under construction, the design of those for Phase 2 is well underway, and we have been calculating the shielding requirements for the hutches. Additionally, as we are now generating radiation, much effort has been devoted to ensuring that all our work complies with UK radiation safety legislation.
In the remainder of 2005 we hope to start commissioning the booster and the storage ring RF cavities.