From interactions.org, 15 April 2013
The new UK particle accelerator VELA (Versatile Electron Linear Accelerator) has achieved a significant electron acceleration milestone, which heralds exciting new opportunities for industry to apply the latest particle accelerator technology to its most critical commercial challenges.
In August 2011, a £2.5m investment was made into the Science and Technology Facilities Council's Daresbury Laboratory for accelerator technology developments, as part of a series of investments across the wider Sci-Tech Daresbury Campus. VELA's unique electron beam characteristics, coupled with its exceptional repeatability and flexibility, make it ideal for applications development across a broad range of key market sectors; everything from seeing through aircraft luggage and developing more effective hospital radiotherapy machines, to shrink-wrapping cable bundles and curing ink.
On the 5th of April 2013 VELA's first beam of electrons was successfully accelerated and captured, making it the latest innovative particle accelerator from the Science and Technology Facilities Councils Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. VELA has been purpose-designed to assist industry in bridging the gap between prototypes and market ready products through the use of charged particle beams. This first successful demonstration of VELA means that it is now expected to be ready for commercial and research use in Summer 2013 with the first commercial users already booked. Read more >>
