| Mission |
 |
|
To become a national research and development entity of world-class
technology capability, based principally on the application
of radiation science and off-the-shelf accelerator technology.
IAC's principal aims are to gain new knowledge; to train the
scientists and engineers who can apply the new knowledge to
a diverse set of complex, real-world problems; and to speed
the transfer of research results to stakeholder communities.
|
| |
|
| History |
|
| |
The Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) is the result of the Nuclear
Science Application Project (NSAP), a successful effort begun
by Idaho State University (ISU) in the late 1980's to develop
strength in nuclear-based applied research. NSAP began in 1988
when the ISU Physics Department established the Particle Beam
Laboratory. This operation expanded with the addition of physics
faculty and equipment and with the addition of the Small Accelerator
Facility in 1992. The organization became a State approved research
center, the IAC, in 1994. Among the original projects was construction
of a State funded building designed to provide office and laboratory
space to house the former DOE "Santa Barbara LINAC"
, a famous accelerator which had been used by Los Alamos, Sandia
and other national laboratories to support nuclear weapons testing.
The Idaho Accelerator Center Building was completed in October
1998 and dedicated on April 30, 1999. By 2000 the IAC had about
20,000 sq. ft. of laboratory space. The latest additions to
the IAC were completed in the summer of 2004. The complex now
has some 40,000 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space along
with 15 acres of open land for field testing. During the founding
period and to the present there has been cooperation between
the IAC and the DOE for a wide range of joint activities, governed
by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This document codifies
a collaborative effort between INEEL, ISU, and the DOE and allows
the placement of DOE owned equipment at ISU. The MOU provides
for a relationship under which the IAC houses the DOE owned
equipment, but uses ISU facilities and personnel for operation,
maintenance and health and safety guidance. A significant advantage
of this agreement is easy access to this equipment and university
owned equipment by universities, government agencies, and the
private sector in a unique research environment. This environment
centralizes equipment in a convenient location fostering inexpensive
research and development and rapid testing for integrated demonstration
development and transfer of technology. Over the last 10 years
the IAC has had contracts and grants totaling over $15M with
a wide range of government and private organizations.
|
| |
|
|
|
