China activates world's most intense heavy-ion accelerator
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China has commissioned the High Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) in Huizhou, Guangdong province, the world's most intense beam of charged atoms. The $384.1 million project, developed over 16 years, achieves particle density eight times higher than the previous record held by Germany's Darmstadt accelerator.
The Accelerator
HIAF is located in Huizhou, Guangdong province, and cost 2.6 billion yuan ($384.1 million). Its particle density per pulse is eight times higher than the previous world record held by the accelerator in Darmstadt, Germany. The project took 16 years to develop.
Scientific Goals
Chief engineer Yang Jiancheng from the Institute of Modern Physics said HIAF will help answer key questions in nuclear physics, including the limit of the periodic table, the origin of heavy elements, and the structure of exotic atomic nuclei. Fast-moving ions act as microscopic bullets, recreating extreme conditions found inside stars or supernova explosions.
Practical Applications
Beyond fundamental research, HIAF will be used for testing spacecraft radiation resistance, developing new materials, improving cancer therapy, and producing new medical isotopes. The Large Hadron Collider was previously shut down until 2030.
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