• D. Rifuggiato, L. Calabretta, L. Celona, F. Chines, L. Cosentino, G. Cuttone, P. Finocchiaro, A. Pappalardo, M. Re, A. Rovelli
  INFN/LNS, Catania

The EXCYT project has successfully come to conclusion at the end of 2006. As a consequence a new facility for production and acceleration of radioactive ion beams is now available at Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Catania. This facility is based on the ISOL method: in particular the primary beam is delivered by a Superconducting Cyclotron, while the secondary beam is post-accelerated by a Tandem. A low energy radioactive beam is also available at the exit of the pre-injector. The main features of the commissioning of the facility will be described. Details will be given on the characteristics of the diagnostic devices. Future development activities are related both to the operative features of the new facility and to the improvements and upgrading that are planned to be introduced in the near future. All of these subjects will be extensively discussed.

Slides

• P. A. Posocco, A. Pisent, C. Roncolato
  INFN/LNL, Legnaro
• G. Clemente, K.M. Kleffner, M. Maier, A. Reiter, B. Schlitt, H. Vormann
  GSI, Darmstadt
• G. Balbinot, E. Bressi, M. Caldara, A. Parravicini, M. Pullia, E. Vacchieri, S. Vitulli
  CNAO, Milan
• C. Biscari
  INFN/LNF, Frascati
• L. Celona, G. Ciavola, S. Gammino
  INFN/LNS, Catania

The CNAO (Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica), located in Pavia (Italy), is a dedicated clinical synchrotron facility for cancer therapy using high energy proton and Carbon beams. The 400 MeV/u synchrotron is injected by a 216.8 MHz 7 MeV/u linac composed by a low energy beam transport (fed by two ion sources), a 400 keV/u 4-rod type RFQ and a 20 MV IHDTL. The commissioning of the two ECRIS ion sources and the low-energy line was successfully completed at the end of January 2009 reaching the proper beam conditions for injection into the RFQ. After installation and conditioning, the RFQ was commissioned with beam by the GSI-CNAO-INFN team in March 2009. The beam tests results are presented and compared to the design parameters.

Slides

• A. Parravicini, S. Alpegiani, G. Balbinot, G. Bazzano, D. Bianculli, J. Bosser, E. Bressi, G. Burato, G. Butella, M. Caldara, E. Chiesa, L. Falbo, A. Ferrari, F. Generani, F. Gerardi, L. Lanzavecchia, R. Monferrato, V. Mutti, M. Nodari, M. Pezzetta, A. Portalupi, C. Priano, M. Pullia, S. Rossi, M. Scotti, M. Spairani, E. Vacchieri, S. Vitulli
  CNAO, Milano
• A. Reiter, B. Schlitt
  GSI, Darmstadt
• C. Biscari, C. Sanelli
  INFN/LNF, Frascati
• C. Roncolato
  INFN/LNL, Legnaro
• L. Celona, G. Ciavola, S. Gammino, F. Maimone
  INFN/LNS, Catania
• L. Frosini, G. Venchi
  University of Pavia, Pavia
• M. Ferrarini
  Politecnico di Milano, Milano

The Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO) is the Italian centre for deep hadrontherapy, namely an innovative type of radiotherapy using hadrons. The wide range of beam parameters (i.e., energy and intensity) at patient level together with the advantages of hadron-therapy with respect to traditional radio-therapy nourishes the hopes for more effective patient recovery. After the LEBT and the RFQ commissioning, the IH commissioning is now in progress. First patients are expected to be treated in 2010. The present paper summarizes and evaluates the Low Energy Beam Transfer (LEBT) line commissioning, which has been carried out between July 2008 and January 2009.