THE POSITIVE-ION INJECTOR OF ATLAS - DESIGN AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE

The recently completed positive-ion injector for the heavy-ion acceler ator ATLAS is a replacement for the tandem injector of the present tan dem-linac system. Unlike the tandem, the new injector provides ions fr om the full range of the periodic table. The concept for the new injec tor, which consists of an ECR ion source on a voltage platform coupled to a very-low-velocity superconducting linac, introduces technical pr oblems and uncertainties that are well beyond those encountered previo usly for superconducting linacs. The solution to these problems and th eir relationship to performance are outlined, and experience in the op eration of ATLAS with its new injector is discussed.