• N. Hayashizaki
  RLNR, Tokyo
• R. Kuroda, B.E. O'Rourke, N. Oshima, R. Suzuki
  AIST, Tsukuba, Ibaraki
• E.J. Minehara
  WERC, Tsuruga , Fukui

Positron that is the antiparticle of the electron, by the specific character, can evaluate vacant spaces in microstructure from atomic level to nanometer level, which is difficult in other measurement methods. In the case of high functional material, this structure often relates directly to the performance, and the evaluation method that uses the positron beam is expected as a useful measurement tool to develop a new material. If it is able to produce more high-intense and low-energy positron beam with an accelerator, the microstructure evaluation is carried out in prompt and high accuracy for various demands of the material analysis. We have studied a positron production system using a superconducting electron linac instead of normal conducting one. Electron beam accelerated with the superconducting linac is irradiated on tantalum and converted to bremstrahlung photons, and positron beam is produced by pair creation of them. The designed acceleration energy of the superconducting electron linac is 15-40 MeV and the maximum beam power is 10 kW. The system configuration and the progress status will be presented.