A Linear Acceleration in Space--The Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket
Abstract
On July 13, 1989 the BEAM experiment Aboard Rocket (BEAR) linear accelerator was successfully launched and operated in space. The flight demonstrated that a neutral hydrogen beam could be successfully propagated in an exoatmospheric environment. The accelerator, which was the result of an extensive collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory and industrial partners, was designed to produce a 10 mA (equivalent), 1 MeV neutral hydrogen beam in 50 microsecs pulses at 5 Hz. The major components were a 30 kev H-injector a 1 MeV radio frequency quadrupole, two 425 Mhz RF amplifiers, a gas cell neutralizer, beam optics, vacuum system and controls. The design was strongly constrained by the need for a lightweight rugged system that would survive the rigors of launch and operate autonomously. Following the night the accelerator was recovered and operated again on the laboratory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA344879
Entities
People
- Kenneth F. Mckenna
- Michael T. Lynch
- Morris B. Pongratz
- Patrick G. O'shea
- Thomas A. Butler
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory