Idaho Accelerator Center facility expanding

Local and state officials gathered Tuesday at Idaho State University to announce the expansion of the Idaho Accelerator Center and witness closing of an agreement between Positron Systems Inc., and ISU.

By Courtney Cobb – Idaho State Journal Writer

ISU President Richard Bowen says the funding is less from the taxpayers and more from the university, which is supported by taxpayers.

He says ISU has had to seek alternatives in funding and through generous donations and grants, ISU will continue to succeed in academics and research.

The IAC is undergoing a $1.8 million expansion funded by $1 million approved through the governor’s office, $400,000 from an INEEL Settlement Fund awarded through the governor’s office, and $400,000 from the Pocatello Development Authority.

ISU will use the funds to construct two additional accelerator labs and other associated facilities at the ISU Business and Research Park, said Frank Harmon, director of the Idaho Accelerator Center.

Governor Dirk Kempthorne attended the ceremony and says he’s excited to see the economic development and ISU’s continued expansion.

He says with projects like the Rendezvous Center, the Stephens Performing Arts Center and the Idaho Accelerator Center, ISU will continue to enhance Pocatello’s growth.

"This current expansion will help us continue to develop our relationships with the private sector and will facilitate the expansion of our work with the Department of Energy, and through the INEEL, our work with homeland security issues," Harmon added.

The IAC’s mission is to use nuclear science technology in application, particularly with accelerators.

An accelerator is a machine that can speed up molecules, sub-atomic particles and elementary particles like electrons and protons.

Positron Systems Inc., an INEEL technology-transfer company, has had a presence at the accelerator for a year.

It’s the first company to be awarded a $100,000 defense contract to check rocket propellants for the U.S. military’s Missile Defense Agency. The company also uses its technology to check the strength of missile and airplane structures, said Positron President Steve Bolen.

"The military can’t very well see how strong the metal is while it’s in the air," Bolen said. He’s optimistic the company will receive a second defense contract worth $500,000.

Positron will not only have its own facility to do day-to-day operations, but will have access to the university for research development, Harmon says.

The IAC’s accelerators can deliver up to 28 million volts of energy.

ISU researchers recently received a $1.4 million Department of Defense grant due to the new facilities. Researchers expect to land other major grants from the Department of Energy and other private and government sources over the next few years.

The IAC is currently developing technology to inspect cargo containers for weapons of mass destruction.

The expansion construction started this fall and is expected to be completed by spring.

The IAC was chartered as a research center by the State Board of Education in 1994 and occupies space in three laboratories on ISU’s campus.

Courtney Cobb covers education issues for the Journal. She can be reached at 239-3127 or by e-mail at [email protected].

– Journal Writer Steven Friederich contributed to this article.

Quick Facts

– Twenty to 30 new jobs will be created after construction ends. As spin-off businesses develop, the number of jobs is expected to increase.

– The Idaho Accelerator Center will work with Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lockheed-Martin, General Electric and Boeing.

– The Idaho Accelerator Center has 21,000 square feet of laboratory space which supports more than a dozen accelerators, ranging from 2 MV Van de Graaffs to 25 MEV electron Linac.

http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2003/10/01/news/local/news01.txt