New GANIL Injector

The EQUIPEX NEWGAIN project, launched on October 1, 2021, for a duration of 6 years and 9 months, aims to increase the heavy-ion production capacity of GANIL. Its primary objective is to achieve record beam intensities to power the S3 and DESIR facilities, matching or exceeding the performance of the world's best sources in the United States and China. This project is based on the development of a high-performance superconducting ion source, a first in Europe, as well as a new solid-copper RFQ accelerator enabling beam transmission exceeding 98%. Since May 2023, the project has entered its construction phase. Key milestones include the finalization of technical specifications in 2025 and the placement of 90% of the major component orders. Although the delivery of the superconducting magnet was delayed by 14 months due to tendering procedures, a contract was signed in April 2025 to secure this critical equipment. The team has been strengthened with over 85 FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents) mobilized between 2021 and 2024, and strategic profiles have been recruited in magnetic engineering and design. Academic integration is already a reality, with several Master's theses and internships underway on NEWGAIN's scientific themes.

The operational phase will begin with beams from the existing PHOENIX V3 source at GANIL, scheduled for June 2029. This will provide heavy-ion beams for the S3 experiment.

In parallel, the ASTERICS superconducting source is expected to start up around the same time at the LPSC in Grenoble. The beams produced will be uranium-238 beams with unparalleled intensities, opening new perspectives for the study of super-heavy nuclei and nuclear astrophysics at the international level.