Five years of synchrotron light in ALBA
On 16 March 2011 the electron accelerator of the ALBA Synchrotron emitted synchrotron light for the first time in Spain.
First component delivered for FAIR’s ring accelerator
Delivery of components commences for the center-piece of the future FAIR facility in Darmstadt, the 1,100-meter-long ring accelerator. The components are being developed and produced all over the world. The first component to be delivered was a bunch compressor, which was manufactured by Aurion Anlagentechnik GmbH in Seligenstadt, Germany, on the basis of advanced developments by GSI. GSI will first subject the bunch compressor to extensive acceptance tests.
Jörg Blaurock appointed new Technical Managing Director of FAIR and GSI
As of 1 February 2016, Jörg Blaurock became the first joint Technical Managing Director of the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH (GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research) and the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research in Europe GmbH (FAIR GmbH) in Darmstadt. Prior to this he had been working in international large-scale plant construction for over 20 years, overseeing full planning, delivery, assembly and commissioning of large technical facilities worldwide. He is now moving from General Electric in Stuttgart to Darmstadt.
Inauguration of PETAL at the French Megajoule Laser Facility
On 29 May 2015, PETAL, (PETawatt Aquitaine Laser), delivered a power of 1.2 Petawatt (one million billion Watts). Supplying almost 1000 Joules of optical energy during less than 1 picosecond (1 psec = 10-12 sec.), thus making PETAL the first facility to overcome the Petawatt power barrier at the highest energy level within one beamline. It becomes the most powerful kilojoule-class laser in the world to date. Part of the Megajoule Laser Facility [LMJ] near Bordeaux, France, this instrument positions the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission [CEA] in a leading position worldwide for building and exploiting powerful lasers.
Learned societies worldwide to plan the future of particle physics
Three community driven initiatives in 2013 have provided an opportunity to high-energy particle “to build a compelling science case for major research facilities in Asia, Europe and the US. They identified ways to increase the scientific return on society’s investment and to spread the benefits of forefront physics research to developing countries.”
An article in the January/February 2014 CERN Courier describes how learned societies have provided valuable input into the planning process for future high-energy particle physics facilities…
In January 2013, a working group of the CERN Council met in Erice, Italy, to draft an updated strategy for medium…
