Don Cossairt
The 10.5 MeV 3He++ Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Radiofrequency Quadrupole (RFQ) Accelerator at Fermilab has achieved stable running at 100 microamp electrical current. Some preliminary foil activation studies have been performed. Neutron dose equivalent rates at the interfaces between the RFQs have been increasing. This appears to be due to the loss of the copper plating on the aluminum surfaces inside the RFQs. It is not clear how much worse the dose rates will get. Tungsten aperture plates are being studied to see if such an insert would decrease the neutron dose equivalent rates. If the beam hits the tungsten plate instead of the copper/aluminum RFQ surface, the neutron rates should be considerably lower. Initial tests do not look promising. Indications are that considerably more beam is beaming lost on the tungsten plate than was being lost on the RFQ surfaces.
Otherwise, at Fermilab we are dealing with a major shutdown to significantly modify the facility. Control of dose equivalent received while working on radioactive materials will be a major achievement during the coming year.
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