(INFN). Image: Nobu Toge Following the successful cavity string work for superconducting acceleration cavities from Europe and Americas, a team of four scientists and engineers form INFN, Italy and Fermilab, US, arrived in Japan for the assembly work of the frequency tuners for S1-global work. The voltage of the field changes with a certain frequency: […]
From KEK: A world of researchers joins hands and hardware
The particle physics community is accustomed to global collaboration, and here at KEK, one of those collaborations has just begun on a core technology for the International Linear Collider (ILC), the superconducting accelerating system. From the Enlightenment to the present day, science has been opening doors to the unknown. Recent physics experiments and observations continue […]
Successful beginning of S1 global at KEK
Four superconducting accelerating cavities have been successfully assembled at KEK’s Superconducting RF Test Facility (STF). From 14 to 22 January, the assembly team of technical staff from DESY and Fermilab visited KEK, and completed cavity-string assembly work in the STF cleanroom, making a wonderful start for S1 global, a crucial system test towards realising the International […]
From SLAC Today: ATF2 Narrows the Focus
Last month the KEK facility in Japan hosted the ninth Project Meeting for the Accelerator Test Facility 2, or ATF2, and a few SLAC staff traveled overseas to participate. The group reviewed progress made in 2009, plans for 2010, and the possibility of extended studies beyond the primary ATF2 goals in 2011, 2012 and beyond. A total […]
From KEK: Cryomodule for “S1-global” arrived from Italy
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, […]
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 […]
In memory of Takayuki Matsui
The 4th annual ILC detector workshop was held at KEK from 2 to 4 December. This series of workshops, led by Hitoshi Yamamoto, professor at Tohoku University, are funded by the Creative Scientific Research Program of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. This workshop marked the first after the validation of ILC detectors […]
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 […]
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, […]
Rises and falls in nanoseconds
ATF succeeded in the fast kicker test
In late October, the fast kickers at the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) at KEK have successfully kicked the beam bunches in 5.6 nanoseconds. Conditioning these bunches is the job of the damping rings, and the kicker system is one of the crucial technologies which hold the key of the damping ring performance. Takashi Naito at […]