Description
The iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) is a National
Research Facility. It is also the premier atomic particle accelerator laboratory on the African
continent and the only facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The facility contributes to
the National System of Innovation (NSI) through the provision of unique research infrastructure
platforms supported by highly skilled scientists, and operations staff. The research agenda of
the facility is based largely on the Separated Sector Cyclotron (SSC), a particle accelerator
which produces particle beams for research.
iThemba LABS plays a pivotal role in the NSI through its collaboration network with South
African Universities and Institutions. The facility enjoys a prominent global position and
plays a critical role in co-ordinating African contributions in collaborative initiatives with
prestigious institutions like the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the
joint Institute for Nuclear research (JINR) in Russia. The research and production of
accelerator-based radioisotopes is a demonstration of basic and applied research being
translated into innovative real world solutions.
iThemba LABS has adopted through its Long Range Plan exercise an ambitious
strategy to create the South African Isotope Facility (SAIF). The plan will be executed
mainly through the acquisition of a new 70 MeV cyclotron, and is based on two phases namely:
- Establishment of the Accelerator Centre for Exotic Isotopes (ACE Isotopes) which
will allow the migration of the radioisotope production programme from the existing particle
accelerator (the SSC) to the proposed new 70MeV cyclotron. This will then release capacity
on the existing SSC to be entirely devoted to the transdisciplinary research agenda of the
facility which will thus meet the requirements of its national and international stakeholders.
- Development of the Accelerator Centre for Exotic Beams (ACE Beams) which will
support the production of artificially produced isotopes which will allow iThemba LABS to
seriously expand their research agenda in this area. The production of exotic beams will
invigorate basic and applied research from innovative cancer therapy treatment modalities to
understanding the origin and creation of chemical elements in the universe, the latter being
already started with the building of the Low Energy Radio-active Ion Beams facility.
The SAIF project as part of the Long Range Plan of iThemba LABS will be discussed.
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD, N/A)?
N/A
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
No
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
No
Primary author
Dr
Faical Azaiez
(iThemba Labs)
