• B. Schlitt, G. Clemente, C.M. Kleffner, M.T. Maier, A. Reiter, W. Vinzenz, H. Vormann
  GSI, Darmstadt
• C. Biscari
  INFN/LNF, Frascati (Roma)
• E. Bressi, M. Pullia, E. Vacchieri, S. Vitulli
  CNAO Foundation, Milan
• A. Pisent, P.A. Posocco, C. Roncolato
  INFN/LNL, Legnaro (PD)

The Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO) presently under commissioning in Pavia, Italy, will be the first Italian facility for the treatment of deeply seated tumours with proton and carbon ion beams. The CNAO accelerator comprises a 7 MeV/u injector linac and a 400 MeV/u synchrotron. The 216.8 MHz linac is a copy of the linac at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Centre (HIT) and consists of a 400 keV/u 4-rod type RFQ and of a 20 MV IH type drift tube linac. In 2004, a collaboration between CNAO and GSI was established for construction and commissioning of the linac. GSI supervised the manufacturing of the linac and of its technical systems, performed copper-plating, assembly, and tuning (together with IAP Frankfurt), and delivered complete beam diagnostics systems. The RFQ was tested at GSI with proton beams together with the BD systems prior to delivery to CNAO. Installation and commissioning in Pavia were performed in collaboration by CNAO, GSI, and INFN. RFQ and thereafter IH linac were successfully commissioned in two steps in 2009, both with (H3)+ and carbon ion beams. The results of the linac commissioning will be reported as well as a comparison to the HIT linac.