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Scientists and engineers at IARC work side by side with industrial partners to research and develop breakthroughs in accelerator science and technology and translate them into applications for the nation’s health, wealth and security.

The mission of IARC, which is part of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, is to advance technologies developed by Fermilab towards commercialization and, with industry partners, help create products and services that improve the health, wealth and security of the nation.

Located on the Fermilab campus, this 83,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building houses offices, technical and educational space to study cutting-edge accelerator technologies. In addition to attracting new private industry partners that will create new high-tech jobs, the center also collaborates with local universities and serves as a training facility for a new generation of scientists, engineers and technical staff in accelerator technology. These partnerships make critical contributions to the technological and economic health of Illinois and place the state in a position to become the world leader in accelerator research, development and industrialization.

Featured Items

2022 Medical Device Sterilization Workshop: From Possibilities to Practice

The Organizing Committee of the 4th Medical Device Sterilization Workshop is pleased to announce the next meeting for stakeholders exploring accelerator-based sterilization alternatives. This virtual event is being offered at no expense and will take place in the mornings (CDT) of September 21, 22, & 23, 2022.

The featured event will be a Mock Pre-Submission Interaction with the FDA. If you are considering utilizing a radiation sterilization modality and you are not familiar with the FDA Pre-Submission feedback process, this will provide a concrete example of how to interact with the FDA most effectively. The mock presentation will provide a mock product sterilization example discussion followed by a panel analysis of the event with an opportunity for Q&A. This will be useful for both scientists and engineers along with regulatory affairs team members looking to learn about FDA interactions.

Design of a medium energy, high average power superconducting e-beam accelerator for environmental applications

In a research collaboration with General Atomics and Euclid Techlabs, the Fermilab team performed technical design and economic assessment of a next generation superconducting electron beam particle accelerator for the treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater. The report summarizes the accelerator design that is capable of treating ∼12 million gallons per day of wastewater, requiring capital cost of ∼$8M for construction and ∼13.5 cents/ton/kGy for processing. This research was supported by the HEP Accelerator Stewardship program of Department of Energy Office of Science.

2021 Medical Device Sterilization Workshop: Understanding the Possibilities

On September 22, 23, and 24, 2021 the Organizing Committee of the Medical Device Sterilization Workshop hosted a virtual workshop for stakeholders exploring sterilization alternatives using accelerator-based radiation. Over three half-days, the workshop built on the work presented in previous years and worked towards fostering collaboration and partnership under the common goal of patient safety. Workshop Summary Report 

Featured Applications

Compact SRF e-beam accelerator

This novel accelerator technology developed at Fermilab holds a number of advantages over conventional technologies. This innovation will provide solutions for commercial needs that either have had little success or are excessively costly.

Water treatment via e-beam

Reliable, cost-effective electron accelerators could be used to sterilize municipal sludge and waste water while simultaneously destroying harmful pathogens, pharmaceuticals and organic contaminants.