A big Christmas gift arrived at KEK from Italy. On 25 December, KEK’s Superconducting radiofrequency Test Facility (STF) welcomed the cryomodule for “S1-global” – a crucial system test towards realizing the International Linear Collider (ILC), a proposed next generation electron-positron collider. “S1” refers to one of the priority milestones (so-called “S” milestones) for ILC R&D, […]
Training the next generation of particle physicists
A lively debate across age groups and cultures marked the Third Linear Collider Physics School, held in Ambleside, UK, in August. For the first time, designated discussion periods were set aside for up–and–coming scientists to share their work and opinions on the future of accelerator–based particle physics with international experts. The week–long event held at […]
The ILC in 2009
Reviewing a year that is coming to an end can be a bit like time travel. While some events seem like they happened only yesterday others seem so long ago that it is hard to believe they happened only a few months ago. Here are some events and developments that were not only important this […]
From Physics Buzz: Nobu Toge: Machine Portraits
For physicist Nobu Toge, a typical day of work at the Japanese high-energy physics lab KEK might involve attending a few meetings, calibrating a just-installed piece of equipment, or writing a report on the research’s progress. But in the midst of it all, Toge might also pull out his always-ready camera and snap a photo […]
From KEK: Call for opinions: Japan faces severe science budget cut
The research program at High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) is facing a grave possibility of a severe budget cut, as recommended by the recently issued Public Budget Review by Japanese government. This affects Japanese renowned research programs including the ones hosted by KEK, such as elementary particle physics and related fields in astrophysics, material […]
From CERN: The LHC is back
From CERN: Two circulating beams bring first collisions in the LHC
Geneva, 23 November 2009. Today the LHC circulated two beams simultaneously for the first time, allowing the operators to test the synchronization of the beams and giving the experiments their first chance to look for proton-proton collisions. With just one bunch of particles circulating in each direction, the beams can be made to cross in […]
Developing new tool for hospitals and life science
The Quantum Beam Project, a year–old project to study and utilise the quantum nature of particle beams at KEK, is developing a commercial version of a new affordable, compact X–ray source. The aim of the project is to develop a compact and high–quality particle source for broad commercial use in medicine, life science, information technology, […]
From DESY inForm: Old hall – new detectors
When you plan to move and try to find helpers, they often ask: to which floor? If the DESY people working in the detector lab would depend on the help of friends, they would have difficulties to find volunteers because the answer would be: seventh floor! Everything has to be transported from the ground floor […]
From Fermilab Today: SRF cryogenics system proves its ‘cool’ factor
Fermilab has passed another major milestone on the road to becoming an expert in superconducting radio frequency technology. In early October, in the first test of the cryogenics system at the RF-unit test facility at the New Muon Lab, Fermilab engineers cooled a superconducting capture cavity to 2 degrees Kelvin, or minus 271 degrees Celsius. […]