Start of Electron Cooling System for the NICA Booster

In order to achieve the required beam parameters in the NICA booster, the electron cooling system (ECS) was designed and manufactured at the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP), Novosibirsk. In 2017, the system was shipped to JINR and its assembly and commissioning started. A specific feature of this system is that, for the first time ever, the electron cooling method with a magnetized e-beam is applied at the superconducting synchrotron; this imposes some additional requirements for the design and start of the ECS, operating at room temperature. This paper describes the main steps of the ECS assembly and start at the straight section of the booster, including mounting mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems (water, electricity, air, and oil system) and geodetic works on installing the system on site. The measured magnetic field homogeneity for the straight solenoid is given. The assembly of vacuum and magnet systems takes several steps because of the ECS design features. At the final assemblage stage of the vacuum system, the vacuum chamber is baked up and the bulk getters and the cathode of the electron gun are activated. Upon completing assembly and testing the high voltage system, the E-beam is conducted from the gun to the collector.