A Superconductive, Low Beta Single Gap Cavity for a High Intensity Proton Linac

The TRASCO project for nuclear waste transmutation [1] requires a 5-100 MeV linac for acceleration of a 30 mA proton beam. Generally, room temperature Drift Tube Linac structures are used in this energy range; however, since the high duty cycle required for high current beams implies a very high power density on the resonators walls, the superconducting solution would offer many advantages. Among various possibilities, single gap superconducting cavities at 352 MHz, able to cover the full range of velocity, could allow a linac design with high reliability [2].