The INFN National Laboratories of Legnaro have recently launched the new SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) project, focused on a cyclotron for protons.
The SPES project to implementing an innovative research infrastructure with the goal of investigating both fundamental physics and interdisciplinary physics and, in particular, the field related to the production of radionuclides of medical interest, for cancer therapy and imaging.
Phase 1 of the project, which has been recently completed successfully, included several various activities, such as the manufacturing and test of the new plasma chamber, the replacement of part of RF amplifiers and their tuning, the RF conditioning of both RF cavities and the control system upgrade.
The first phase was characterized by a phased approach for the project implementation and the full commitment of all the laboratory’s divisions of the Laboratories of Legnaro which are now focused on the next phases that will lead to the completion of SPES:
- Phase 2: low energy radioactive ion beam production for mid 2025;
- Phase 3: ADIGE commissioning as new stable beam injector for ALPI accelerator complex for mid 2026;
- Phase 4: radioisotopes production facility implementation by 2027;
- Phase 5: radioactive ion beams post-acceleration with ADIGE-ALPI complex, also by 2027.
