FY2024 Applied Research Laboratory Technical Exchange Meeting held

The FY2024 Applied Research Laboratory Technical Exchange Meeting was held on February 17.
This technical exchange meeting, now in its 10th year, has been held annually to introduce the work and technological development of engineers and to exchange information among the four centers of ARL. The total number of participants was 46, including 17 in person and 29 via Zoom.
The program was as follows:

1. “Measurement of thermal neutrons generated at accelerator facilities” (OYAMA Takahiro, ARL Radiation Science Center)
   Thermal neutrons are the cause of accelerator facilities becoming radioactive. This presentation introduced a method for measuring thermal neutrons using gold foil in the accelerator tunnel at J-PARC and at the irradiation facility at CERN.
2. “Introduction of network development in infrastructure network” (NISHIGUCHI Mitsuo, ARL Computing Research Center)
   Networks are one of the technologies that support the activities of KEK. This presentation introduced the behind-the-scenes work that cannot be known by simply using the network as a user, such as installing a network in a newly constructed building and adjusting the wireless LAN.
3. “Fabrication of HEX1 heat exchanger” (USHITANI Yuito, ARL Mechanical Engineering Center)
   The HEX1 heat exchanger is part of a device that generates ultra-low energy neutrons. This presentation introduced the difficulties encountered in manufacturing the device, such as the method of machining the cooling fins required for its production, and the design for joining dissimilar metals, including the examples of failures.
4. “FY2024 Liquid Helium Supply Report - Considerations and Issues for Improving Recovery Rates -" (TANAKA Kenichi, ARL Cryogenics Science Center)
   ARL supplies liquid helium to cool equipment such as superconducting magnets. Since liquid helium is expensive, it is collected after use, purified, and resupplied. This presentation introduced the methods used to improve the recovery rate.

Since each center in ARL carries out significantly different tasks, these types of presentations provide a valuable opportunity to understand the work of each center.