Progress in the Construction and Commissioning of the LEAF Facility

Zhai Yuhan; Yang Yao; Sun Liangting; Zhang Bo; Zhao Hongwei

doi:10.11884/HPLPB202537.250194

Article Contents

Article Navigation > High Power Laser and Particle Beams > 2025 > Accepted Manuscript

Zhai Yuhan, Yang Yao, Sun Liangting, et al. Progress in the Construction and Commissioning of the LEAF Facility[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250194

Citation:

Zhai Yuhan, Yang Yao, Sun Liangting, et al. Progress in the Construction and Commissioning of the LEAF Facility[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250194

Zhai Yuhan, Yang Yao, Sun Liangting, et al. Progress in the Construction and Commissioning of the LEAF Facility[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250194

Citation:

Zhai Yuhan, Yang Yao, Sun Liangting, et al. Progress in the Construction and Commissioning of the LEAF Facility[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250194

PDF( 20341 KB)

Progress in the Construction and Commissioning of the LEAF Facility

doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250194

Zhai Yuhan^{1, 2, 3
,
,},
Yang Yao¹,
Sun Liangting¹,
Zhang Bo^{1, 3},
Zhao Hongwei¹

1.
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Science and Technology, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
3.
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

Received Date: 2025-07-03
Accepted Date: 2025-10-08
Rev Recd Date: 2025-10-14

Available Online: 2025-10-25

Abstract

Abstract

The Low Energy High Intensity High Charge State Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility (LEAF) is a national scientific instrument developed by the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to provide high-current, high-charge-state, full-spectrum low-energy heavy ion beams for interdisciplinary studies.
Background
To meet research needs in nuclear astrophysics, atomic and molecular physics, and nuclear materials, LEAF offers tunable energies from 0.3 to 0.7 MeV/u and supports continuous-wave acceleration for ions with A/q = 2-7.
Purpose
This paper presents an overview of the construction progress, key design parameters, and operational performance of the facility, summarizing recent achievements and outlining future development goals.
Methods
The paper introduces the system architecture—comprising the 45 GHz superconducting ECR ion source FECR, RFQ, IH-DTL, and terminal beamlines—and describes beam commissioning and diagnostic approaches.
Results
LEAF has successfully achieved stable acceleration of multi-species, high-charge-state heavy ion beams with intensities up to 1 emA. It has delivered more than 13,000 hours of beam time, realized efficient operation of“cocktail”multi-ion beams, and established a high-current, low-energy-spread ¹²C²⁺ beamline for precise reaction measurements in the Gamow window.
Conclusions
These results verify LEAF’s excellent beam quality and operational reliability. Planned upgrades—including an extended energy tuning range and triple-ion beam capability—will further enhance its role as a frontier platform for experimental studies in nuclear astrophysics and radiation effects in advanced materials.
- heavy ion accelerator,
- beam control,
- cocktail beam,
- high current carbon ion beam,
- energy tuning

FullText(HTML)

References(15)

References

[1]	Yang Yao, Zhai Yuhan, Jiang P Y, et al. Commissioning progress of LEAF at IMP[J]. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2020, 1401: 012019. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1401/1/012019
[2]	Yang Jiancheng, Xia Jiawen, Xiao Guoqing, et al. High intensity heavy ion accelerator facility (HIAF) in China[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2013, 317: 263-265. doi: 10.1016/j.nimb.2013.08.046
[3]	Zhao H W, Sun L T, Guo J W, et al. Superconducting ECR ion source: from 24-28 GHz SECRAL to 45 GHz fourth generation ECR[J]. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2018, 89: 052301. doi: 10.1063/1.5017479
[4]	Yang Yao, Tian Ruixia, Zhai Yuhan, et al. Development of a beam energy adjustment system after a Radio-Frequency-Quadrupole[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2022, 1039: 167095. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2022.167095
[5]	Yang Yao, Zhai Yuhan, Tian Ruixia, et al. Longitudinal emittance measurement for an external-bunching-based heavy-ion RFQ[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2022, 1029: 166457. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2022.166457
[6]	Barrón-Palos L, Aguilera E F, Aspiazu J, et al. Absolute cross sections measurement for the ¹²C + ¹²C system at astrophysically relevant energies[J]. Nuclear Physics A, 2006, 779: 318-332. doi: 10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2006.09.004
[7]	Wang Shuo, Li Yunzhen, Ru Longhui, et al. ¹²C+¹²C fusion reaction at astrophysical energies using HOPG target[J]. Nuclear Science and Techniques, 2025, 36: 143. doi: 10.1007/s41365-025-01714-3
[8]	Yang Yao, Sun L T, Zhai Yuhan, et al. Heavy ion accelerator facility front end design and commissioning[J]. Physical Review Accelerators and Beams, 2019, 22: 110101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.22.110101
[9]	Wu Zhengrong, Sun Liepeng, Qiu Feng, et al. A new multi-harmonic buncher for the LEAF project[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2023, 1047: 167856. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2022.167856
[10]	Chauvin N. Space-charge effect[DB/OL]. arXiv preprint arXiv: 1410.7991, 2014.
[11]	Zhai Yuhan, Yang Yao, Sun Liangting, et al. Production of high intensity highly charged cocktail beams at LEAF[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2022, 1027: 166157. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2021.166157
[12]	Zhai Yuhan, Yang Yao, Liu Yong, et al. Variable-energy cocktail beam technology for investigating synergistic damage in nuclear materials on LEAF platform[J]. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2024, 1069: 169987. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2024.169987
[13]	Li J Q, Sun L T, Yang Yao, et al. Development of an all permanent magnet ECR ion source for low and medium charge state ions production[J]. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2020, 1401: 012022. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1401/1/012022
[14]	Baluc N. Materials for fusion power reactors[J]. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2006, 48(12B): B165-B177. doi: 10.1088/0741-3335/48/12B/S16
[15]	Zinkle S J. Fusion materials science: overview of challenges and recent progress[J]. Physics of Plasmas, 2005, 12: 058101. doi: 10.1063/1.1880013