Good Practices in the Operation and Maintenance of Low Energy Electrostatic Accelerators

Electrostatic accelerators contribute significantly to activities within various fields of work including basic research, environmental monitoring, climate change, water and air quality, forensics, cultural heritage, agriculture, and development of advanced materials for energy production via fission or fusion. Due to an increase in the analytical as well as irradiation capabilities of electrostatic accelerators, there has been a rapid growth in interest from the industrial sector. Different accelerators have their own physical and technological characteristics, and therefore are targeting specific application areas. This publication provides practical guidance, across a range of functions, on low energy electrostatic accelerator operations and maintenance as well as some considerations for safety-related issues. The intended audience of this publication includes professionals involved in the operation and maintenance of electrostatic accelerators, scientists of different disciplines using electrostatic accelerators for interdisciplinary research applications, and lecturers focusing on physics and engineering aspects in the operation of electrostatic accelerators.