The Ga PEAcH: A Portable Electrostatic Particle Accelerator

In collaboration with the University of North Georgia, we are constructing a portable linear electrostatic particle accelerator less than 2 meters in length. Two Edwards EXT255-HP hybrid turbo molecular pumps and Edwards D396-24-000 turbomolecular pump controllers were salvaged from a decommissioned mass spectrometer to provide a vacuum of order 10^-7 torr. We are in the process of using Raspberry Pi single board computers to remotely control the vacuum system and the Matsusada AU-100N1 high voltage power supply. The accelerator will be tested through measurements of the 17 MeV gamma-ray produced via the 7Li + p --> 8Be + gamma reaction. Low energy reactions are envisioned for both pure and applied physics research.