The Iwate Accelerator Industry Research Group (Chair: Hiroyuki Fujishiro, vice-president of Iwate University) held a seminar in a Morioka hotel on June 6th about the ILC. There, they deepened attendees’ understanding of the policies to reduce the costs of ILC construction, and the latest news regarding the effort to host the ILC in Japan.

In attendance were around 180 representatives of industry, academia, and government. Prof. Shinichiro Michizono of Japan’s High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK in Tsukuba, Ibaraki) explained that half of the cost of the ILC would come from constructing the linear collider. He also talked about how they could shorten manufacturing times if they used materials directly cut off from ingots (pieces of relatively pure metal), and showed off research into increasing acceleration performance through injecting nitrogen into the surface of the accelerator cavities.

Various parts will be needed to construct the ILC. “During the preparation phase, industry and academia must work together to push forth international cooperation, and determine the details of the ILC’s design.”

Atsuto Suzuki, head of the Tohoku ILC Planning Office and president of Iwate Prefectural University, gave the keynote speech. “I want to work hard to ensure the ILC is placed as an important project within the Science Council of Japan’s master plan.”

A general meeting for the Research Group was also held on this day, where they approved a project schedule that included accelerator-related technology seminars and the continuation of joint research with KEK.