The use of NEG pumps and coatings in large vacuum systems: experience and limitations

Today Non Evaporable Getter (NEG) materials are commonly used for vacuum production in large vacuum systems, in particular in particle accelerators. Recently, a new technology based on NEG sputtering techniques was successfully developed by CERN and utilized at various synchrotron light sources and ion collider facilities. The aim was to improve the vacuum performance in some conductance limited vacuum systems in order to minimize the gas bremsstrahlung emission and to reduce the impact of the electron-cloud instability discovered in some machines. The most recent results obtained are presented.