Centre for Accelerator Science
ANSTO's AMS facilities will be expanded
via the new centre.
ANSTO's new Centre for Accelerator Science will expand opportunities for the organisation and its partners.
Accelerators have a vast array of applications; they can be used from the A to Z (archaeology to zoology) of science.
The potential to increase the use of accelerators in a range of scientific pursuits was recently identified by the Australian Federal Government in the 2009/10 budget when it allocated $A25 million to establish a new Centre for Accelerator Science at ANSTO. An advisory group, with key national and international representation, will be formed to contribute to the process of designing the new centre.
As part of the funding arrangement, two new accelerators will be commissioned at ANSTO over the next four years. A new, low energy multi-isotope accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) accelerator will be purchased as well as a new medium-energy tandem accelerator, which will cater for a wide range of applications.
These new instruments will be more efficient and more automated than existing systems, and allow ANSTO to move into new environmental areas, such as carbon capture research.
It is also anticipated that the new centre will include laboratory facilities for preparation of samples prior to applying high sensitivity accelerator-based analysis techniques. Ultra-clean laboratory conditions are required to ensure the integrity of the analysis results.
The project's scientific leader, Mike Hotchkis, says that these new facilities will be a significant boost for ANSTO and access will be made available for researchers from around Australia.
Key contact:
Mike HotchkisANSTO Institute for Environmental Research
PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9717 3148
Email: Michael.hotchkis@ansto.gov.au