NEW technology promising a range of uses from treating cancer to powering safer nuclear reactors has reached a major milestone in its development, according to scientists at Warrington’s Daresbury Laboratory.
A new, small particle accelerator is reaching fruition at the laboratory, according to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Cutting edge particle accelerators are usually huge, global endeavours. But the new one being developed at Daresbury is “a beautifully small and elegant new type of particle accelerator.”
Scientists at Daresbury Laboratory are constructing a demonstrator for the new technology that is the first of its kind in the world.
An STFC spokeswoman said: “This 20 million electron volt prototype, known as EMMA, not only uses technology that is simpler and less expensive than current accelerators, it also promises applications from treating cancer to powering safer nuclear reactors that produce less hazardous waste.”
EMMA has recently achieved a major milestone, by successfully steering its first electron beams more than half way around the accelerator’s circumference.
This is a world first and hugely significant in that it proves that the fundamental design of the most technically demanding aspects of this accelerator is sound.
The next step in commissioning is now underway too demonstrate the feasibility of this unique accelerator and pave the way to the construction of more powerful, yet more compact, accelerators utilising this landmark technology. The electron beam injected into EMMA is generated by another accelerator system operated by STFC at Daresbury, known as ALICE.
ALICE is based upon an unusual mode of operation that minimises the power needed to accelerate the beams, which at maximum level would otherwise require a small power station to operate. ALICE is the first accelerator in Europe to operate in this way.
Susan Smith, director of the ASTeC accelerator centre at Daresbury said: “The exploitation of particle accelerators has expanded well beyond the confines of fundamental physics to many areas of science, technology, manufacturing and medicine.
“However, the potential for even greater deployment is now limited by the size, complexity and cost of these accelerators. It is anticipated that Daresbury Laboratory’s EMMA will provide the technology to overcome this issue and take these applications to a new level. This is a significant milestone for EMMA and we now look forward to the next steps of successfully steering a beam around EMMA’s complete circumference closely followed by EMMA’s first accelerated beam within the next couple of months.”
