Example 4: Collaboration with the VECC in India

The Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) in Kolkata is managed and operated by the Government of India’s Department of Atomic Energy.  VECC is presently commissioning a superconducting cyclotron and several rare-isotope beam accelerators, and they are planning the construction of several additional linear accelerators.  TRIUMF’s technical expertise in accelerator systems and its reputation for scientific excellence make it a natural partner for the VECC research program.  VECC and TRIUMF are both members of the world-wide Tesla Technology Collaboration (TTC), a collaboration of 45 institutes engaged in the free exchange of knowledge and technology aimed at applications of superconducting RF accelerator technology. 

TRIUMF and VECC are both developing plans to build new 50 MeV superconducting radio-frequency electron linear accelerators to produce rare-isotope beams using actinide targets.  The collaboration with VECC will allow the TRIUMF e-linac project to proceed on a faster time schedule by sharing technical expertise, resources, and costs.  This arrangement benefits VECC in a similar manner.  The goal of the first phase of the VECC-TRIUMF partnership is to develop jointly a single cavity horizontal test cryomodule.  Two will be built: one for VECC and the other for TRIUMF.  The cavities will be constructed by PAVAC, a local company, thereby bringing industrial activity and expertise to Canada.  TRIUMF and VECC will fully develop all aspects of cavity production.  Scientific and engineering staff of VECC and TRIUMF will collaborate to develop the design and subsequently to build the required infrastructure.  It is expected that Indian physicists and engineers will make extended visits to TRIUMF to share and jointly develop technical expertise.