[en] The International Conference on Charged Particle Optics, CPO, is held every 4 years, and brings together scientists working in all areas of charged-particle optics including electron microscopy, accelerators, spectrometers, electron and ion sources, and theory. In October 2002 the sixth such conference, CPO6, was held near Washington, DC. This is the report on the Sixth International Charged-Particle Optics Conference. Proceedings of this conference have been published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A Volume 519, February/March 2004

[en] Dr. Dragt of the University of Maryland is one of the Institutional Principal Investigators for the SciDAC Accelerator Modeling Project Advanced Computing for 21st Century Accelerator Science and Technology whose principal investigators are Dr. Kwok Ko (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) and Dr. Robert Ryne (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). This report covers the activities of Dr. Dragt while at Berkeley during spring 2002 and at Maryland during fall 2003

No abstract available

[en] The high voltage power supplies for existing ICRH amplifiers are typically thyristor controlled DC-power supplies. For power control, the tube must be operated in class B, leading to a poor efficiency of the system. For existing pulsed systems, the efficiency is not an important aspect, but for a CW-system the power dissipation is an issue for cooling and power cost reasons. For future machines it will also become an important aspect for the break-even point of the machine. In broadcast applications, class C systems are in the meantime used exclusively. The modulation is done by a modulator, for which different systems can be used. Thomcast uses for the modulator their pulse step modulator (PSM) systems which offer many advantages compared to alternative solutions. The paper describes a study for the implementation of a PSM for class C ICRH amplifiers in CW operation. This design is mainly intended for ITER, where for the amplifiers the use of class C operation is planned. The amplifiers are to deliver 2 MW RF-power, which leads to a total power consumption of less than 3 MW including the driver stage. The power is controlled by modulating the final stage anode voltage. The PSM modulator technology must be adopted for the special requirements for these systems. One target in this case was to include the driver stage supply in the PSM. The layout restrictions and safety precautions have to be taken into account as well. (author)

[en] A new kind of high voltage high-power Pulse-Step Modulator (PSM) for broadcast transmitters, accelerator sources, for NBI (Neutral Beam Injection for Plasma Heating), gyrotrons and klystrons has been developed. Since its first introduction in 1984 for broadcast transmitters, more than 100 high-power sound broadcast transmitters had been equipped with the first generation of the PSM modulators, using Gate Turn-Off Thyristors (GTOs) as switching elements. Recently, due to faster switching elements and making use of the latest DSP technologies (Digital Signal Processing), the performance data and areas of application could be extended further. In 1994, a precision high voltage source for MW gyrotrons was installed at CRPP in Lausanne. Supplementary very low cost solutions for lower powers but high voltages had been developed. Hence, today, a large area of applications can be satisfied with the family of solutions. The paper describes the principle of operation, the related control systems and refers to some particular applications of the PSM amplifiers, especially the newest developments and corresponding field results

[en] Consider an arbitrary beamline magnet. Suppose one component (for example, the radial component) of the magnetic field is known on the surface of some imaginary cylinder coaxial to and contained within the magnet aperture. This information can be obtained either by direct measurement or by computation with the aid of some 3D electromagnetic code. Alternatively, suppose that the field harmonics have been measured by using a spinning coil. We describe how this information can be used to compute the exact transfer map for the beamline element. This transfer map takes into account all effects of real beamline elements including fringe-field, pseudo-multipole, and real multipole error effects. The method we describe automatically takes into account the smoothing properties of the Laplace-Green function. Consequently, it is robust against both measurement and electromagnetic code errors. As an illustration we apply the method to the field analysis of high-gradient interaction region quadrupoles in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

[en] This report presents developments in software, connected with digital image processing and analysis in the Centre. In image processing, one resorts to either alteration of grey level values so as to enhance features in the image or resorts to transform domain operations for restoration or filtering. Typical transform domain operations like Karhunen-Loeve transforms are statistical in nature and are used for a good registration of images or template - matching. Image analysis procedures segment grey level images into images contained within selectable windows, for the purpose of estimating geometrical features in the image, like area, perimeter, projections etc. In short, in image processing both the input and output are images, whereas in image analyses, the input is an image whereas the output is a set of numbers and graphs. (author). 19 refs

[en] MARSAME is an acronym for the 'Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Assessment of Materials and Equipment'. Published in January 2009, MARSAME was a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to aid sites in the clearance of materials and equipment (M and E). The MARSAME manual supplements the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM), published in 1997. As cited in the MARSAME, applicable M and E includes metals, concrete, tools, equipment, piping, conduit, and furniture. Also included are dispersible bulk materials such as trash, rubble, roofing materials, and sludge. Solids stored in containers, as well as liquids and gases, represent additional M and E. The MARSAME methodology covers multiple technical areas, including the initial assessment (IA), Measurement Quality Objectives (MQOs), survey approaches and considerations, survey plans, survey implementation, and Data Quality Assessment (DQA). These topics are generally captured under four phases of the data life cycle, which are Planning, Implementation, Assessment, and Decision-Making. Flexibility and a graded approach are inherent components of the MARSAME methodology pertaining to M and E property clearance programs. Because large quantities of M and E potentially affected by radioactivity are present in the United States, owners of the M and E need to identify acceptable disposition options. Thirteen disposition options, broadly defined under both release and interdiction scenarios, are described in MARSAME. Nine disposition options are listed for release; these options are categorized into two for reuse, two for recycle, four for disposal, and one that is essentially 'status quo' (i.e., maintain current radiological controls). Four interdiction options are also cited. To date, applications of the MARSAME approach for M and E property clearance under reuse scenarios have been limited. However, this should change as familiarity increases. Known examples are provided from DOE-contractor and NRC-licensee facilities. If the methodology is appropriately planned and implemented, the benefits of the MARSAME approach include worker and public protection, reduction in the amount of disposed radioactive waste, reuse of materials (resulting in environmental and material sustainability advantages), and cost savings. (authors)

[en] The Pulse Step Modulator technology is widely used for several high voltage power supply applications, including the supply for gyrotrons, klystrons and neutral beam injectors. Thomson Broadcast and Multimedia is working on a new tube power supply system designed to operate several different klystron and gyrotron tubes for tube production testing. The system consists of the main power supply and the anode / body modulator. The main power supply is rated 160 kV / 20 A cw / 400 A pulse. The anode / body modulator is rated 100 kV / 250 mA. Both subsystems will be realised in PSM technology. The main power supply is a PSM system with some novel features. The target is to achieve very short rise times of 5 μs with low overshoot and also very low short circuit energies. The anode modulator requires 5 kHz modulation capability on high capacitive loads. This is achieved with a push-pull technology. The anode / body modulator is currently under testing in the Thomson factory. The mains power supply will be installed in the tube factory in autumn 2006. The paper gives an overview on the complete system. It will show the basic features and shows the status of the system testing. (author)

[en] The UK Government has unveiled an ambitious retrofit programme that seeks significant improvement to the energy efficiency of the housing stock. High quality data on the energy efficiency of buildings and their related energy demand is critical to supporting and targeting investment in energy efficiency. Using existing home improvement programmes over the past 15 years, the UK Government has brought together data on energy efficiency retrofits in approximately 13 million homes into the Homes Energy Efficiency Database (HEED), along with annual metered gas and electricity use for the period of 2004–2007. This paper describes the HEED sample and assesses its representativeness in terms of dwelling characteristics, the energy demand of different energy performance levels using linked gas and electricity meter data, along with an analysis of the impact retrofit measures has on energy demand. Energy savings are shown to be associated with the installation of loft and cavity insulation, and glazing and boiler replacement. The analysis illustrates this source of ‘in-action’ data can be used to provide empirical estimates of impacts of energy efficiency retrofit on energy demand and provides a source of empirical data from which to support the development of national housing energy efficiency retrofit policies. - Highlights: • The energy efficiency level for 50% of the British housing stock is described. • Energy demand is influenced by size and age and energy performance. • Housing retrofits (e.g. cavity insulation, glazing and boiler replacements) save energy. • Historic differences in energy performance show persistent long-term energy savings