STATUS OF THE UNILAC–UPGRADE PROGRAMME FOR THE HEAVY ELEMENT RESEARCH AT GSI–SHIP

For more than 30 years the heavy–element research us-ing the velocity separator SHIP is one of the ”lighthouse” experiments at GSIs heavy ion linear accelerator UNILAC [1]. The discovery of six new elements since 1981 is based on the perpetual effort to increase the beam intensity. Since the early 1990’s the beam current available was raised sig-nificantly by improvements concerning the CAPRICE ion source, the LEBT and the accelerator performance. The next step is the upgrade of the RFQ accelerator, which is scheduled for 2009. The new RFQ will allow for high duty factor operation (up to 100%) and for an improved longitu-dinal beam quality as well as an increased beam transmis-sion. A new superconducting 28 GHz ECR ion source will be installed later. The new source will provide increased beam intensities and simultaneously higher charge states. It will be installed in addition to the existing one; therefore a second LEBT system has to be designed and integrated. The status quo of the UNILAC upgrade programme is pre-sented