The new Isotope Separator and Accelerator (ISAC-I) at the Canadian TRIUMF laboratory in Vancouver has
reached its maximum energy on schedule.
On 21 December 2000 a beam of singly charged helium-4 ions was accelerated through the ISAC drift-tube linac to 1.5 MeV per nucleon.
A major component of the laboratory’s programme over the coming years will be the planned upgrade to ISAC-II, boosting the energy to 6.5 MeV per nucleon and extending the menu to cover isotopes in the mass range 30-150.
A forthcoming article will cover ISAC commissioning in more detail.
