HIE-Isolde SC linac: Operational aspects and commissioning preparation

In the framework of the HIE-ISOLDE project, the REX linac will be upgraded in stages to 5.5 MeV/u and 10 MeV/u using superconducting (SC) quarter-wave cavities. The linac lattice is now frozen and the beam dynamics has been checked. The beam properties at the output of the NC linac for the different stages have been measured and are compatible with the SC linac acceptance. The high-energy beam transfer design is being finalised and a study has been launched for a buncher/chopper system allowing 100 ns bunch spacing for time-of-flight measurements. A compact diagnostic box for the intercryomodule region is under development and a new Sidetector based monitor for energy and phase measurements has been tested.