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| Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Proton Improvement Plan II |
| Acronym | PIP-II |
| Location | Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois |
| Status | Construction |
| Start | 2019 |
| Expected completion | 2028 |
| Cost | US$1.2–1.5 billion (estimate) |
| Operator | Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |
| Purpose | High-intensity proton accelerator for Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility / Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment |
Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) Proton Improvement Plan II is a major accelerator upgrade at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois designed to deliver high‑intensity, high‑reliability proton beams to support the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility, Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, and a portfolio of intensity‑frontier experiments. The project integrates superconducting radio‑frequency technology, industrial partnerships, and national laboratory coordination to supplant legacy accelerators and to enable next‑generation neutrino, muon, and rare‑process programs.
PIP-II evolves from earlier modernization efforts at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and builds on experience from projects such as Tevatron, Main Injector, Booster (accelerator), and the Proton Improvement Plan (PIP) precursor. The initiative aligns with recommendations from advisory bodies including the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel, High Energy Physics Advisory Panel, and international collaborations with CERN, DESY, KEK, TRIUMF, Paul Scherrer Institute, and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. PIP-II leverages technology developments from programs like Spallation Neutron Source, European Spallation Source, and the International Linear Collider R&D to replace aging radio‑frequency systems inherited from machines such as the Linac (accelerator) and to meet goals set by United States Department of Energy offices and the Office of Science.
Primary objectives include delivering a stable, continuous-wave capable 800 MeV superconducting linear accelerator to raise the proton beam power available to the Booster (accelerator) and Main Injector for multi‑megawatt neutrino production aimed at Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. The scope encompasses construction of an 800 MeV superconducting linac, new front‑end and ion source systems, cryogenic plants, high‑power RF systems, beam transport lines, and integration with existing Fermilab Recycler and Recycler Ring infrastructure. The upgrade aims to support research programs at the intensity frontier including experiments connected to Muon g‑2, MicroBooNE, Short‑Baseline Neutrino Program, Mu2e, NOvA, and future initiatives linked to International Neutrino Platform collaborations.
The technical design centers on a superconducting radio‑frequency linac employing five families of superconducting cavities operating at 162.5 MHz, 325 MHz, and 650 MHz frequencies. Key components include an ion source derived from designs at TRIUMF and Los Alamos National Laboratory, a radio‑frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator similar to those at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Spallation Neutron Source, medium‑energy beam transport (MEBT) with a chopper system, and cryomodules utilizing niobium cavities informed by experience at DESY, Fermilab, and CERN. Supporting systems cover cryogenics modeled on Helium refrigeration plants used at Large Hadron Collider, high‑power klystrons and solid‑state amplifiers as developed with industry partners, beam diagnostics akin to instrumentation from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and control systems integrated with EPICS frameworks. The design considers beam dynamics challenges including space‑charge effects known from Booster (accelerator) operations, longitudinal painting methods used in SNS, and halo mitigation strategies demonstrated at PSI.
Construction is coordinated by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory with contributions from national laboratories, universities, and industry. Major civil works include new tunnel sections and service buildings located on the Fermilab site adjacent to historical facilities such as the Wilson Hall complex. Procurement and fabrication draw on vendors experienced with accelerator components, cryomodules, and superconducting cavities used by KEK, CERN, and DESY. Implementation phases follow DOE project management practices and milestones similar to those used for Project X concept studies and follow configuration control protocols applied in projects like ITER and James Webb Space Telescope for complex system integration. International partners including India Department of Atomic Energy, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, and United Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council contribute technical scope and components.
PIP-II increases beam power and duty factor to enable precision measurements in long‑baseline neutrino oscillations for mass hierarchy and CP violation studies in conjunction with Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, complementing global efforts at Hyper‑Kamiokande, IceCube, and NOvA. Enhanced proton intensities support muon experiments probing charged‑lepton flavor violation such as Mu2e and precision muon magnetic moment measurements related to Muon g‑2, as well as rare kaon and neutron experiments pursued at facilities including J-PARC and TRIUMF. The linac also enables testbeds for accelerator science, superconducting RF R&D, and applications in isotope production and materials science paralleling programs at European Spallation Source and Spallation Neutron Source.
Budgeting follows United States Department of Energy Office of Science Project Assessment guidelines with total project costs estimated in the range of US$1.2–1.5 billion, subject to scope and international contributions. Schedule baselines set construction and commissioning milestones across phased deliverables with targeted operations ramping toward the late 2020s to match Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility timelines. Management is executed through Fermilab project offices under DOE oversight, with risk registers, earned value management systems mirroring practices at large science projects like Large Hadron Collider upgrades and ITER.
Safety protocols integrate Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, DOE radiological control requirements, and lessons from accelerator incidents at facilities such as CERN and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Environmental impact assessments and permitting coordinate with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities for land use, water, and waste management near Batavia, Illinois. Cryogenics and high‑voltage systems adhere to consensus codes from organizations like American Society of Mechanical Engineers and National Fire Protection Association, while radiation shielding design follows standards applied at Spallation Neutron Source and other high‑power proton facilities.
Category:Particle accelerators Category:Fermilab projects