Commissioning Experience for the SNS Linac.

The Spallation Neutron Source accelerator systems will deliver a 1 GeV, 1.44 MW proton beam to a liquid mercury target for neutron scattering research. The accelerator complex consists of an H- injector, capable of producing one-ms-long pulses at 60 Hz repetition rate with 38 mA peak current, a 1 GeV linear accelerator, an accumulator ring and associated transport lines. A 2.5 MeV beam from the Front End is accelerated to 86 MeV in a Drift Tube Linac, then to 185 MeV in a Coupled-Cavity Linac and then to 1 GeV in a Superconducting Linac. The staged beam commissioning of the accelerator complex is proceeding as component installation progresses. The Front End, Drift Tube Linac and part of the Coupled-Cavity Linac have been commissioned at ORNL. The primary design goals of peak current, transverse emittance and beam energy have been achieved. Results and status of the beam commissioning program will be presented. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]