International collaboration on muon science
International collaboration on muon science between RIKEN and RAL
RIKEN has concluded an agreement on muon science in September 1990 with Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, entitled by the name of Dr. Rutherford who experimentally gave proof of the existence of nuclei. RIKEN has constructed a muon experiment facility producing high intensity pulsed muon beam, and has been promoting muon science open to researchers of various fields from Japan, the UK and the other counties.
Agreement of international collaboration on muon science
RIKEN made an agreement of international collaboration on muon science with SERC (Science and Engineering Research Councils) in the UK in September 1990. The second agreement was made in September 2000 between RIKEN and CCLRC (Council of Central Laboratory Research Councils). Third agreement was made in July 2010 between RIKEN and STFC (Science and Technology Facility Council). This project was the largest collaboration project between Japan and the UK, and has been spoken as a good example of successful research projects. The roles of RIKEN and RAL are as follows,
- RIKEN: the construction, operation, maintenance of the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility.
- RAL: supplying a high intensity proton beam to the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility.
In the agreement, RIKEN and RAL have independent PACs (Program Advisory Committee), and are carrying forward their own muon science projects. This point is a distinguished feature of the agreement.
History of the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility
| 1990 April | Budget Approval by STA (Science and Technology Agency) |
| 1990 September | The first agreement between RIKEN and SERC |
| 1991 | Beginning of facility construction |
| 1994 November | Observation of the first muon beam |
| 1995 April | Inauguration of “RIKEN Facility Office at RAL” Beginning of condensed matter studies by μSR methods |
| 1996 June | Completion of the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility Beginning of muon catalyzed d-t fusion experiments |
| 2000 Septembe | The second agreement between RIKEN and CCLRC |
| 2006 April | Jointed to RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science |
| 2007 November | #1 International Advisory Committee (RAL) |
| 2008 November | #2 International Advisory Committee (RIKEN) |
| 2010 July | The third agreement between RIKEN and STFC |
| 2011 February | #3 International Advisory Committee (RIKEN) |
