COMMISSIONING OF THE 1.4 MeV/u HIGH CURRENT HEAVY ION LINAC AT GSI

The disassembly of the Unilac prestripper linac of the Wideröe type took place at the beginning of 1999. An increase of more than two orders of magnitude in particle number for the most heavy elements in the SIS had to be gained. Since that time the new High Current Injector (HSI) consisting of H-type RFQ and DTLstructures for dual beam operation was installed and successfully commissioned. The High Charge Injector (HLI) supplied the main linac during that time. Simultaneously conditioning and running in of the rftransmitters and rf-structures were done. The HSI commissioning strategy included beam investigation after each transport and acceleration section, using a versatile diagnostic test stand. Results of the extensive commissioning measurements (e.g. transverse emittance, bunch width, beam transmission) behind LEBT, RFQ, Super Lens, IH tank I and II and stripping section will be discussed. An Ar beam coming from a MUCIS ion source was used to fill the linac up to the theoretical space charge limit. Routine operation started in November 1999.