Status of the SPIRAL 2 project at GANIL

MOODAU03International audienceSpiral 2 is a new European facility for Radioactive Ion Beams being constructed at the GANIL laboratory (Caen, France). Based in a High Intensity multi-ion Accelerator Driver (Superconducting Linac), delivering beams to a High Power Production system (converter, target, and ion source), producing and post-accelerating Radioactive Ion Beams with intensities never reached before. The preliminary safety report was released at the beginning of 2009, opening the official nuclear licensing procedures. Detailed studies of buildings, tunnels, and associated infrastructures were also finalized, allowing initiating ground works in 2010. The major components of the accelerator (injectors and Linac), have been presently ordered. The Superconducting Linac Accelerator incorporates many innovative developments around the Quarter-Wave Resonators and their associated cryogenic and RF systems. The first operation is scheduled for 2012 with an initial experimental program prepared within a large international collaboration with many institutions and laboratories around the world