The ESS is currently under construction in Lund, Sweden and will become a multi-disciplinary research facility based on the world’s most powerful neutron source. The facility’s unique capabilities will both greatly exceed and complement those of today’s leading neutron sources; this will enable new opportunities for researchers across the spectrum of scientific discovery, including materials and life sciences, energy, environmental technology, cultural heritage and fundamental physics.
As a European Research Infrastructure Consortium ESS will rely on the expertise of its international partners from across Europe to succeed in its mission. Composed of a large network of Laboratories, Universities and research organisations such a partnership can exchange knowledge, personnel and experience and will contribute directly through in-kind contributions, which are expected to finance >35% of the total €1.843 billion construction costs.
ASTeC is leading the UK’s in-kind contribution programme for accelerator system delivery to ESS, harnessing its critical expertise in Radio Frequency (RF) and Ultra-high Vacuum (UHV) science. Through integrated partnership with specialist Mechanical, Electrical and Vacuum specialist teams within Technology Department at Daresbury Laboratory, an extensive programme is being delivered over the period 2014 to 2020.
The UK’s first accelerator in-kind contribution system delivery was accomplished in July 2015, which comprised a suite of UHV vacuum qualification facilities, which the ESS team will utilise to prepare and validate a variety of beamline components in readiness for installation onto the ESS accelerator.
Provision of Superconducting RF (SRF) high beta cavities and Linac Warm Unit modules are the next phase of major UK accelerator system delivery and the Daresbury teams in ASTeC and Technology Department are playing a pivotal role in testing and integrating ~£40m worth of critical accelerator hardware; this will eventually rise to almost 70% of the final ESS beam delivery system from the ESS proton ion-source to the rotating tungsten target.
