Universal linear accelerator: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:23, 8 January 2006

Latest revision as of 21:27, 23 June 2025

(46 intermediate revisions by 36 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{refimprove|date=May 2013}}

{{cleanup}}

The '''Uni'''versal '''L'''inear '''Ac'''celerator is based at the Heavy Ion Research Centre (GSI) near [[Darmstadt]], [[Germany]]. Its use has produced, in the past 20 years, elements [[unnilseptium|107]] to [[ununbium|112]] and the creation of element [[ununtrium|113]] is expected very soon. It is a [[linear]] [[particle accelerator]] that can accelerate any [[nuclei]], incluing nuclei of heavy atoms. This allows it to generate superheavy [[transactinides]].

[[File:Part of UNILAC GSI.jpg|thumb|300px|Part of UNILAC GSI]]

However, there has been some controversy due of the lack of real practical uses for these new synthesised elements, mainly due to their short lifespans of up to 30 seconds. However, it is possible that in the future more stable isotopes of these elements will be found, and these could have practical applications.

The '''Universal Linear Accelerator (UNILAC)''' is a [[heavy ion]] [[linear particle accelerator|linac]] based at the [[GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research]] near [[Darmstadt]], [[Germany]]. It can provide beams of accelerated [[ion]]s of elements from [[hydrogen]] to [[uranium]] with energies of 2 to 11.4&nbsp;[[MeV]]/[[Dalton (unit)|Da]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Barth|first=W.|author2=Bayer, W. |author3=Dahl, L. |author4=Groening, L. |author5=Richter, S. |author6= Yaramyshev, S. |title=Upgrade program of the high current heavy ion UNILAC as an injector for FAIR|journal=Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment|year=2007|volume=577|issue=1–2|pages=211–214|doi=10.1016/j.nima.2007.02.054|bibcode = 2007NIMPA.577..211B }}</ref>

{{physics-stub}}

The main branch consists of two ion source terminals followed by a [[Radio Frequency Quadrupole]] and by an Interdigital linac [[IH linac accelerator]] resonating at 36&nbsp;MHz up to the energy of 1.4&nbsp;MeV/Da. The main part then is operated by a classical [[linac]] of the Alvarez type which resonates at 108&nbsp;MHz. Final energy adjustment can be performed in the last section consisting of a series of single-gap resonators. This solution was proposed for maximum flexibility in beam energy.

[[category:nuclear physics]]

The UNILAC is used both to send beams of heavy ions to experiments and to load the [[SIS18]] Heavy-Ion Synchrotron (Schwer-Ionen-Synchrotron) with high-energy ions.

Collisions between heavy-ion beams and stationary targets can be made to generate superheavy [[transactinides|transactinide elements]].

Experiments using beams from UNILAC in the past 20 years have produced elements [[Bohrium|107]] to [[Copernicium|112]].

== See also ==

* [[GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Darmstadt]]

[[Category:Particle accelerators]]

{{physicsAccelerator-stub}}