First RIB production with SPES exotic beam facility at INFN-LNL

SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is the INFN (Istituto Nazionale Fisica Nucleare) facility to produce and post-accelerate exotic nuclei for forefront research in nuclear physics and to produce radioiso-topes for medical applications. The primary proton beam, extracted by a commercial cyclotron, irradiates targets like SiC, TiC or UCx where the ISOL (Isotope Separation On Line) technique is used to produce and extract exotic nuclei. Those are ionized, selected and either transported to low energy experiments or cooled with an RFQ (Radio-Frequency Quadrupole) cooler, purified from isobars contaminants through a HRMS (High-Resolution Mass Separator), sent to a CB (Charge Breeder), to increase charge state, injected into a RFQ accelerator and accelerated into ALPI (Acceleratore Lineare Per Ioni) superconducting Linac to finally reach experimental stations. The primary beamline has been fully commissioned, first radioactive beams have been produced and transported to low energy experiments, while the post-accelerator is under installation. A description of the entire facility as well as its commissioning status is given.