Lines of Service
PIM News
Teamwork Returns 88-Inch Cyclotron to Service
In July 2020, the cooling tower fan for the 88-Inch Cyclotron failed and ultimately rendered the accelerator inoperable. A cross-divisional project team sprang into action with one goal: replace the cooling tower and bring the cyclotron back online in less than the year it was expected to normally take.
The 88-Inch Cyclotron, operated by the Nuclear Science Division, is one of only two facilities in the nation that do the majority of Single Event Effects (SEE) testing for spacecraft electronics. Critical tests for the Europa Clipper, which will conduct reconnaissance of one of Jupiter’s moons, and xEMU spacesuits, were delayed by the 88’s failure.
This couldn’t have been done unless we had dozens of people all working together to reduce timelines and expedite processes. They all recognized the urgency of the situation and responded at that level
The 88-Inch Cyclotron also has a full lineup of other critical work: It is at the beginning stages of a search for element 120 using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator (BGS); it conducts key research to understand nuclear structure; and it provides valuable nuclear data for treating cancer and characterizing materials and detectors. Read More
Was this page useful?
