Fermilab hosts a number of test facilities that support the laboratory’s scientific missions. These test facilities can be accessed by university and industry partners on an occasional basis for other research, but only if the work does not interfere with the core mission projects and programs of the laboratory (see Partnering with Fermilab for more information on how to engage with Fermilab). Interested researchers should contact the host organization directly to determine if a particular capability is both suitable and available for your needs by following one of the following links:
Technical Campus
Cryomodule Test Facility
The Cryomodule Test Facility (CMTF) is a research and development facility for accelerator science and technology, in particular, for testing and validating superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) components. CMTF provides the necessary test bed to measure and characterize the performance of SRF cavities in a cryomodule. CMTF was designed to be a flexible test facility, configurable in different ways to meet the needs of current as well as future projects at Fermilab and abroad.
Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology facility
The Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility is America’s only test bed for cutting-edge particle beams and for accelerator research aimed at intensity frontier proton accelerators. Electrons are accelerated through a 125-meter linear accelerator, called the electron injector, to an energy of 150 million electronvolts before heading into the Integrable Optics Test Accelerator.
Integrable Optics Test Accelerator
The 40-meter-circumference Integrable Optics Test Accelerator, known as IOTA, at the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology facility accelerates electrons from the FAST electron injector. Scientists use IOTA to test new accelerator technologies and the physics of beams.
Fermilab Test Beam Facility
The goal of the Fermilab Test Beam Facility (FTBF) is to provide flexible, equal and open access to test beams for all detector tests, with relatively low bureaucratic overhead and a guarantee of safety, coordination and oversight. The facility consists of two versatile beamlines (MTest and MCenter) in which users can test equipment or detectors with the only high-energy, hadron test beam in the United States.
Irradiation Test Area
Fermilab is working on establishing a Irradiation Test Area at the MTA beamline (test area at the 400 MeV end of the linac). Details about beam composure, shielding, testing needs are under development right now.
High-Rate Tracking Area
A new area for beam tests of high-rate tracking devices is being developed. The new area is in the MTest beamline (see Fermilab Test Beam Facility above). This area will be suitable for tests of detectors with modest transverse dimensions. In this area, 120-GeV protons will be available with a maximum rate of 2.5 gigahertz per square centimeter.