FP6-SSA-INCO-043630-RBI-AF
Upgrade of the RBI Tandem Accelerator Facility

     Through the Laboratory for Ion Beam Interactions (LIBI), the Division of Experimental Physics of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute (RBI) operates and maintains the Tandem Accelerators facility that physically consists of the 6MV Tandem Van de Graaff and 1MV Tandetron accelerators, associated beam lines and measurement end-stations. The facility is used for research and applications by various clients/collaborators in a range of fields, including nuclear and atomic physics, applications in materials science and development of advanced materials, archaeology and characterisation of cultural heritage objects, etc.

     The goal of the RBI-AF project has been to stabilise and reinforce the existing research potentials of the RBI Tandem Accelerator Facility in order: (i) to strengthen its presence at the European Research Area by maintaining and increasing its involvement in cooperative research projects on equal basis with partners from the EU and third countries by offering modern state of the art experimental facilities and know-how; (ii) to meet demands of its clients/collaborators from various sectors of the national, regional and inter-regional character, in line with the RBI mission, vision and adopted values.

     Through the project, the facility strengthened its possibilities to continue giving its services to traditional clients/collaborators in a more efficient way. In addition, the project opened possibilities for the facility to offer new subjects and activities, and to increase linkage with clients/collaborators from various sectors of the national and regional character, thus increasing the number of clients/collaborators and services. This was achieved by physical upgrading of certain measurement capabilities; upgrade of the 6MV tandem accelerator to provide required ion beams in more efficient way; by preparing promotion brochures, upgrade the facility web site, and organizing a workshop for targeted user-groups.

     Upgrades supported by the project included:
(i) Upgrade of the in-air analysis end station
(ii) Upgrade of the focusing capabilities of the existing ion microbeam end station
(iii) Upgrade of the material modification end station.

     In addition, the project supported upgrade of:
(iv) 6MV EN tandem accelerator vacuum system
(v) its negative sputtering ion source

     The project started in April 2007 and ended on 30th November 2009.