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Description
ELSA electron linear accelerator, operated at CEA/DAM for over three decades, is currently undergoing a major upgrade of its RF accelerating structures with the objective of enhancing operational reliability, availability, and performance.
The first phase targeted the second accelerating stage and involved the replacement of the 433 MHz klystron modulator. The new modulator, developed by Jema Energy, is based on a high-voltage Marx architecture designed to enhance pulse stability and overall system maintainability.
The second phase focused on the first accelerating stage, which feeds the 144 MHz photo-injector. The original tetrode-based RF amplifier has been replaced by a high-power solid-state amplifier developed by AMPEGON, capable of delivering up to 1.6 MW peak power. A key challenge of this upgrade was achieving an architecture with a comparable footprint and thermal management constraints to the former tube-based system while preserving RF performance specifications.
The upcoming third phase will undertake a complete redesign of the RF system powering the 1.3 GHz third accelerating stage, including the development of new accelerating cavities and their associated high-power RF source.
This contribution provides an overview of the upgrade program, detailing the design considerations, testing, commissioning, and integration activities. It also discusses the technological choices implemented and the operational experience gained throughout the process.
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