An ILC technology development symposium was held in Tokyo on June 25th, attended by around 150 researchers. There, Lyn Evans, who serves as the director of the Linear Collider Collaboration (LCC), the international organization that is spearheading the ILC effort, once again called for the Japanese government to make clear their position on hosting the ILC as soon as possible.

The symposium was held by the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), LCC, and the International Center for Elementary Particle Physics of the University of Tokyo.

Evans stressed that, “Accelerator technology continued to develop thanks to accelerator research facilities brought online in the US, Europe, and China. This means we are in a good place to develop momentum to get [international] cooperation for the ILC.” Next year, the board of directors at CERN will begin deliberations on the next 5-year strategy for particle physics in Europe, so “this is a very crucial period. The Japanese government must make their intentions clear.”

Professor Sachio Komamiya of Waseda University explained, “Coordination between the national government, politicians, industry, and local government is necessary for this truly international project. In order to bring about the ILC as quickly as possible, the Japanese government will need to make its intentions clear.” A Chinese researcher said, “Chinese researchers will also work hard for the ILC. We are hoping for a positive decision from the Japanese government.”

Researchers from the US and Japan talked about their strategy to reduce costs in building the superconducting radiofrequency cavities that will accelerate electron and positron beams.

By optimizing the purity of niobium (the rare metal that will be used to make the cavities) and simplifying the manufacturing process, they expect to reduce the cost of a sheet of niobium by about 50%. They are also researching how to increase acceleration efficiency by diffusing nitrogen within the cavities.