ADVANCE IN THE LEPTA PROJECT

The Low Energy Positron Toroidal Accumulator (LEPTA) at JINR is close to be commissioned with circulating positron beam. The LEPTA facility is a small positron storage ring equipped with the electron cooling system and positron injector. The maximum positron energy is of 10 keV. The main goal of the project is generation of intensive flux of Positronium (Ps) atoms - the bound state of electron and positron, and setting up experiments on Ps in-flight. The report presents an advance in the project: up-grade of LEPTA ring magnetic system, status of the construction of positron transfer channel, and the electron cooling system, first results of low energy positron beam formation with 22 Na radioactive positron source of radioactivity of 25 mCi.