AUSTRON, a Central European Pulsed Spallation Neutron Source Protron

After the disintegration of the Iron Curtain, Austria declared its intention to build a centre of excellence for scientific research in the central European region. The choice of a spallation source became clear in 1991-92 and the addition of a medical facility, now known as the Med-AUSTRON, quickly followed. A major design report appeared at the end of 1994. AUSTRON, at that time, was planned in stages that would culminate in two target stations, a muon physics facilty, a test beam for detectors, a medical facility and a maximum average power of 410 kW at 50 Hz. In the years that followed the design was reviewed. Dual frequency schemes for both the radio-frequency and the main resonant power converter have been studied to reduce the particle losses while increasing the average power to 500 kW. More recently, a second ring has been proposed as a bunch accumulator that will operate at 10 Hz, with five times the particle intensity per pulse of the standard 50 Hz operation. The original premise that reliable and known technology would be used, but in a custom-built and innovative way, has been respected throughout the development.