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Research with Ion Beams and Isotopes

RIBI
An interdisciplinary research group serving communities beyond those focusing on the base mission of the Office of Nuclear Physics.

 This new interdisciplinary research group was established to initiate new research programs at ATLAS aimed at leveraging the capabilities of the staff and facilities in PHY and other Argonne Divisions to serve communities beyond those focusing on the base mission of the Office of Nuclear Physics.

  • Isotope production R&D at Argonne’s LEAF (Low Energy Accelerator Facility) and ATLAS facilities
  • Fundamental studies of advanced materials for next generation nuclear reactors and other energy sources
  • Accelerator design and beam physics studies
  • Design and construction of radioactive beam separators, ie the S3 separator at GANIL and AIRIS at ATLAS
  • High gradient linac and beam delivery R&D for ion beam therapy
  • Real-time imaging development for ion beam therapy
  • Radiobiology experiments at ATLAS
Recent activities include:
  1. The development of a concept of an Extreme Materials facility (XMAT) comprising a heavy ion linac to be constructed and installed for in situ radiation damage studies at the APS – simultaneous ion damage and x-ray imaging, in collaboration with NE and MSD;
  2. Research on the production of an important alpha emitter, 211At, using lithium ions at ATLAS has been initiated. There is strong interest in this effort from several radio-medicine groups;
  3. The development of a concept for an advanced high gradient linac possibly leading to a prototype carbon ion therapy facility using existing infrastructure at the decommissioned IPNS;
  4. The development of a concept for a compact superconducting gantry for both proton beam and carbon beam therapy in collaboration with an industrial magnet company;
  5. Initiated new collaborations with University of Milwaukee Wisconsin on acoustic imaging for proton and ion beam therapy, with Northwestern on Cellular Radiobiology and with The Chicago Proton Center in Warrenville, IL on the development of a very compact proton beam gantry to fit in one of their existing rooms.
     

Funding Sources:

  • DOE’s Office of Nuclear Physics, Isotope Production Program
  • DOE’s Office of High Energy Physics, Accelerator Stewardship Program
  • DOE’s SBIR/STTR Program
  • Future: NIH, Regional hospitals and medical groups