Source-This post on Proton Improvement Plan Project- (PIP-II) has been created based on the article “India formally begins construction phase for contributions to Fermilab’s new particle accelerator” published in “NEWS” on 15 February 2024.
Why in the news?
India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has recently stared the construction phase for contributions to Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) project.
What is Proton Improvement Plan Project- (PIP-II)?
About– It is the 1st particle accelerator on U.S. soil.
Location– Fermilab (USA)
Objective– To generate the world’s most intense beam of neutrinos.
International Collaborators – It is built with significant contributions from international partners. Indian institutions, including the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the Inter-University Accelerator Centre, and others, will provide technical components for PIP-II.
Function– It will power the world’s most high-energy neutrino beam to the under construction Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF).
Significance– It provides Indian scientists and engineers the training, technical insight and know-how for the development of their domestic particle accelerator program and future projects.
What are Particle Accelerators?
It is a device that produces a beam of fast-moving, electrically charged atomic or subatomic particles. It propels charged particles (Protons, Atomic Nuclei, Electrons etc.) at high speeds, close to the speed of light.
What are the application of Particle accelerators?
1) Fundamental Research– It enables the collision of sub-nuclear particles at near-light speeds. This facilitates the search for new particles and forces, and advancing understanding of the universe’s origins.
2) Health Applications– It is used for sterilizing medical equipment and synthesizing radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
3) Environmental Impact– It helps in detection of trace chemical elements in air, water, or soil. This can be used for monitoring environmental efforts.
4) Industrial Applications– It finds utility in improving material durability and enhancing industrial processes through research and development.
What are some other Large Particle Accelerators?
| Types | Location | Significant discovery |
| Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This is the most powerful accelerator | CERN (Geneva) | Discovery of Higgs Boson, previously unknown hadrons etc |
| European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) | France | Researchers demonstrated a novel X-ray imaging technique-“HiP-CT” for 3D cellular-resolution scans of whole organ |
| Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre (SLAC) | USA | Discovery of quark and tau leptons |
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