Status of the RAON project in Korea

Abstract

A new rare-isotope beam (RIB) accelerator complex, RAON, is under construction in South Korea. RAON employs two RIB production methods, namely, isotope separation online (ISOL) and in-flight fragmentation (IF). According to the original design, ISOL and IF can run independently, and RAON ultimately combines them to provide more neutron-rich ion beams for the experiments. In 2021, due to the delay in developing high-energy superconducting cavities and modules, it was decided to proceed with the RAON construction project in two steps. In the first phase, the injector system, the low-energy accelerator system, ISOL, the IF separator, and all experimental devices will be completed by the end of 2022. The high-energy accelerator system will be developed, manufactured, installed, and commissioned in the second phase. In this article, the status of the superconducting accelerators, RIB production systems, and experimental equipment for RAON is reviewed.