The 88-Inch Cyclotron supports a local research program in nuclear science and is the home of the Berkeley Accelerator Space Effects (BASE) Facility. Operated by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the Cyclotron is now jointly funded by the DOE and the National Security Space Community.

The 88-Inch is a K=140 sector-focused cyclotron with both light- and heavy-ion capabilities. Protons and other light-ions are available at high intensities (10-20 pμA) up to maximum energies of 55 MeV (protons), 65 MeV (deuterons), 135 MeV (3He) and 140 MeV (4He). Most heavy ions through uranium can be accelerated to maximum energies which vary with the mass and charge state.

The 88-Inch Cyclotron supports ongoing research programs in nuclear structure, astrophysics, heavy element studies, fundamental interactions, symmetries, and technology R&D by LBNL and U.C. Berkeley. Education of the next generation of scientists is an important mission. Major instrumentation under development at the 88-Inch Cyclotron includes GRETINA, the next generation Gamma Ray Energy Tracking Array, and VENUS (pictured above), a third-generation superconducting ECR ion source, which is the prototype for RIA.

The BASE Facility provides well-characterized beams of protons, heavy ions and other medium energy particles which simulate the space environment. The National Security Space (NSS) community and researchers from other government, university, commercial and international institutions use these beams to understand the effect of radiation on microelectronics, optics, materials, and cells.