Felsenkeller 5 MV underground ion accelerator for nuclear astrophysics

A 5 MV Pelletron accelerator with both an internal and an external ion source providing for intensive 1H+, 4He+, and 12C+ beams is being installed in the Felsenkeller underground site in Dresden, shielded from cosmic rays by 45 m rock overburden. Civil construction has recently been completed. The technical features of the new laboratory, test results, and the scientific program will be summarized. In addition to in-house research by HZDR and TU Dresden, the new accelerator will be open for outside users, both from Germany and worldwide.