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First Beam Produced at New Radiation Testing Facility

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100424-05
4/24/2010

From Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Public Affairs

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane and the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (IUCF) produced the first measurable beam of electrons at the new Advanced Electron-Photon Facility (ALPHA) during a major test that began March 30 in Bloomington, Ind.

Developmental testing, which is still in progress, marks the first time that electrons have been injected into the storage ring, something which will allow for fine tuning of the beam's parameters.

This is a key step in the facility's development and demonstrates the ability of ALPHA to inject and contain a beam of electrons.

ALPHA, a multipurpose electron accelerator located at Indiana University Bloomington, will significantly enhance current linear accelerator testing capabilities, providing advanced dose-rate research and test capabilities. This state-of-the-art resource will provide NSWC Crane and the DoD with the means to perform the entire suite of dose-rate studies.

NSWC Crane's Strategic Missions Center, a recognized leader in radiation sciences, regularly performs dose-rate testing on space and missile program components to determine the component's reaction to radiation exposure. It is essential to U.S. defense that these elements can withstand and function in stressing environments. ALPHA will be able to simulate the radiation environment these devices could be exposed to, providing realistic and reliable testing of the components.

"Our partnership with Indiana University and the creation of ALPHA will enormously enhance our test capabilities for space and missile program components," said Steve Clark, NSWC Crane radiation sciences chief engineer. "We will be able to provide even more assurance that the warfighter's defense systems can withstand whatever vulnerabilities and environments it may face."

Construction of ALPHA began in 2007, with full operation planned for fall 2011. Strategic Missions Center experts were responsible for establishing the capability requirements and are currently developing user facilities. The accelerator will exceed the DoD's requirements for radiation testing and jointly serve the needs of the Indiana University science community.

Pairing with IUCF greatly enhances the warfare center's research and high reliability component testing capabilities, allowing Strategic Missions Center experts to effectively provide leading edge technical solutions.

NSWC Crane is the Navy's only organic organization that designs radiation hardened electronics and has positioned itself as a leader by supplying the war fighter with the tools needed to meet mission requirements in radiation-prone environments.