• D. Reggiani, M. Daum, P.-A. Duperrex, G. Dzieglewski, U.P. Frei, T. Korhonen, A.C. Mezger, U. Muller, U. Rohrer
  PSI, Villigen

At PSI, a new and very intensive Ultra-Cold Neutron (UCN) source based on the spallation principle will start operation at the end of 2009. From then on, two neutron spallation sources - the continuous wave SINQ and the macro-pulsed UCN source will be running concurrently at PSI. The 590 MeV, 1.2 MW proton beam will be switched towards the new spallation target for about 8 s every 800 s. This operation can be accomplished by means of a fast kicker magnet with a rise-time shorter than 1 ms. A beam dump capable of absorbing the full-intensity beam for a few milliseconds has been installed after the last bending magnet so that the kicking process and the beam diagnostic can be checked well before the UCN facility will be ready for operation. Recent tests have demonstrated the capability of switching the 1.2 MW beam with negligible losses and to center it through the beam line by using fast beam position monitors. Much longer beam pulses (up to 6 seconds) with reduced beam intensity have also been performed successfully.