A 250 kV high current ion accelerator for applications in nuclear astrophysics

Abstract A 250 kV ion accelerator which provides high proton beam currents of the order of 1 mA has been built at the CSNSM, Orsay. Energy spread and energy stability were found to be better than ± 50 eV. This accelerator will be used for precise determination of proton induced nuclear reactions at low energies relevant in the field of nuclear astrophysics. Experimental studies of nuclear reactions involving radioactive targets will be performed. The target setup for measuring particle emitting reactions consists of a solenoidal superconducting spectrometer to achieve a large solid angle for the detection of the reaction products and an improved signal/noise ratio.