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Particle Accelerator

Particle Accelerator

Taylor University has received a $250,000 grant from the NSF (National Science Foundation) for use with the Particle Accelerator. The grant has been utilized in part to transport the accelerator from the hospital as well as to modify the accelerator from its original purpose for medical treatment to its new research oriented purpose. When first undertaking the challenge of converting the accelerator researchers said, "the concept of converting a high-energy medical linear accelerator (linac) into a research accelerator appears to be unique." Though the Accelerator is not yet functional, great progress has been made in transforming it into a research machine. 

The accelerator will serve as a research machine to schools and universities all around this region. The closest accelerator used for research purposes is housed at Notre Dame. Therefore surrounding schools will be able to conduct tests and perform research that they would otherwise not be able to complete.

Gantry

Principal Investigator, Dr. Hank Voss, said the grant and linear accelerator will further a growing portfolio of advanced scientific work on the Upland campus. "This linear accelerator program will have a huge, positive impact on undergraduate teaching and faculty research among the consortium members," he stated. "Additionally, the commercial uses will benefit space science research and a variety of other industries in the surrounding region. The conversion of this medical accelerator will serve as a model for other universities. This project is good for Taylor University and good for Indiana."

 

Under the guidance of the principal and co-investigators, students will be involved in every aspect of the accelerator development. "The educational benefits of this project start right now - as we are doing the engineering to put it together and performing the final installation," Braswell said. "This is distinctive of Taylor. Our undergraduate students have participated in a number of scientific venues of research and discovery. Normally one would not be doing this kind of research until graduate school."

Satellite Functionality

The Particle Accelerator was donated by Marion general hospital for Satellite research. Space hardware must be radhard – this means that the hardware must be tested and resistant to extreme radiation. When flying a satellite in space there are charged particles or radiation streaming off of the sun. Those particles are capable of disrupting electronics, especially digital circuitry. It can change registers inside your processors which essentially means that the radiation will be flipping switches causing terrible glitches and malfunctioning. Radhard testing allows us to determine the dose levels that any satellite part can withstand and also the types of effects that radiation would have on any component’s operation. Without the use of a particle accelerator, TU students would not be able to check their equipment to ensure that everything is launch ready.