The beginnings of RERP at IUCF go back to the early nineties when a group from NASA began to use the proton beam to simulate the space radiation environment. Since then, the radiation effects program has grown steadily.
Studies of single event upsets (SEUs), displacement damage or other effects of radiation on micro- or opto-electronic devices are being conducted. Qualification of COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) components for applications in space are part of the radiation effects program as well. In addition, the radiation hardness of materials, such as adhesives for use in high radiation environments, is being investigated.
Figure 1: Indiana University Cyclotron Facility: The cyclotron and so-called trunkline, which runs horizontally
across the picture, are shown in green. The medical facility with treatment rooms (TR1-3) is shown in red. Two beamlines for radiation
effects research were completed in 2003 (RERS1 and RERS2, dark blue). A NSF funded low energy neutron scattering facility (LENS, light
blue) produced its first neutron beam in December 2004. The neutron beam may also be used for radiation effects studies.
New beamlines
In 2001 NASA chose IUCF as their main test facility for devices intended for use on the international space station. Subsequently, the two new, state-of-the art beamlines for radiation effects research were designed in collaboration with NASA. The two new beamlines (RERPII) are shown in dark blue in Fig. 1 and are now both available for radiation effects research. Radiation effects studies are conducted concurrently with proton therapy operations.
Beam is extracted from the cyclotron at 205 MeV and delivered by a fast kicker system to both the medical facility and to each of the new radiation effects stations.
The Neutron Irradiation Facility
As the size of electronic components continues to decrease into the ‘nano’ regime, their sensitivity to single event errors (SEEs) increases. Of particular interest is the response of certain components to single events triggered by neutrons. Moreover, neutron scattering is also a valuable tool in materials sciences.
A low energy neutron scattering facility (LENS), where neutrons are produced by protons impinging on a beryllium target, became operational in December 2004 (Fig. 1) and is presently upgraded to deliver higher intensity beams. An increase in proton beam energy from 7 to 13 MeV has been funded as well. A dedicated neutron irradiation facility (NREP) is under construction and will consist of a second production target. As of May 2006 the 1MeV-equivalent flux is 108n/cm2 /s
For additional information on RERP or to schedule an experiment
please contact Barbara von Przewoski:
(812) 855-2913
(812) 855-6645
bvonprze(at)indiana.edu
RERP, Indiana University Cyclotron Facility
2401 N Milo B. Sampson Lane
Bloomington, IN 47408
