The use of a commercial copper beam dump for intense MeV proton beams

During commissioning of the first phase of the SARAF accelerator, several tests with ~ 1 mA proton beam at energy 1.5–3.5 MeV were performed. A commercial VAT copper beam dump was used as a beam stopper. The activation of the beam dump was measured and compared with literature. Beam induced blistering was not observed. The radiological limitation of the beam dump, non observation of the surface deterioration and possible improvements are discussed.