There are only five countries in the world with a facility like TARLA, one of which is in Turkey.
With the Turkish Accelerator and Radiation Laboratory (TARLA), Turkey has become one of the five countries in the world possessing superconducting electron accelerator technology.
In recent years, Turkey has made significant strides in electron acceleration technology.
Turkey has taken one of its most crucial steps in superconducting technology with TARLA, which is associated with institutions like the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in The Middle East (SESAME).
TARLA, originally part of Ankara University and later transformed into a state-owned research laboratory by law, has propelled Turkey into the ranks of the five countries with superconducting electron accelerator technology, thanks to its Phase-1 20 meV beamline, using local equipment and expertise.
11 Projects Underway
TARLA, led by Prof. Dr. Hasan Serdar Öztürk, has received 35 million euros in funding so far. With its ability to accelerate electrons using superconducting technology, TARLA will bring significant advancements in science and engineering. It will facilitate research and training in many fields, including cancer radiation and hadron therapy, particle physics, nuclear physics, biotechnology, nanotechnology, genetics, materials science, industry, metrology, chemistry, energy, defense, space, communication, and lasers.
Prof. Öztürk states, "With TARLA, Turkey has surpassed a significant milestone in scientific research based on accelerator technologies. Currently, there are 11 ongoing projects at TARLA, 2 supported by the EU and 9 by TÜBİTAK. The setup of TARLA by a Turkish team has also provided significant experience."
Dr. Veli Yıldız, TARLA's Lead Researcher, who has conducted important work in accelerators abroad, explained TARLA and its activities to TRT Haber:
"TARLA will not only provide the opportunity to conduct research with particles but also serve as a center. This makes it very significant. There are many particle accelerators around the world, but TARLA is a superconducting accelerator that will produce a beam for conducting experiments. There are not many centers based on superconducting technology in the world, only in five countries. TARLA will be one of them."
“After the first acceleration, they raised the Turkish flag”
"TARLA has been in development for a long time, but a lot of supporting systems are needed for an accelerator to function. These systems were completed by the end of 2023, and we are now intensively working on setting up the beamline and accelerator line and conducting their tests. In April, we took a major step. We accelerated superconducting particles. After the first acceleration, the colleagues here raised the Turkish flag in the control room."
“Will greatly advance science”
"This is the first acceleration done in Turkey. TARLA will greatly advance accelerator technology and accelerator science in Turkey. The particles and beams produced by the accelerator or the laser can be used for material research in physics, chemistry, and biology. For instance, by irradiating a soil sample and placing detectors around it, we can determine its components."
“Used in radiotherapy and hadron therapy”
"Accelerators have many medical applications. They are used both for sterilizing medical equipment and in cancer treatment. They are utilized in radiotherapy and hadron therapy. Additionally, if we want to detect harmful substances in imported materials, we can use irradiation methods here to identify them."
“Not science fiction, but science”
"Let’s not call the work being done 'science fiction.' It’s science... In the past, this was science fiction, but now it’s technology used in many places, and perhaps has been delayed in Turkey. TARLA will fill this gap in Turkey. I believe such a facility will greatly benefit Turkey in the future with its developed technology and by-products."
“Unique in Turkey with a superconducting accelerator”
"TARLA was previously affiliated with Ankara University, but in 2020 it became a national center. Although we are still on the university campus, we are now a national research center. What makes this place unique in Turkey is the size of the accelerator, its capabilities, its status as a national center, and the fact that it is a superconducting accelerator.
TARLA will undoubtedly advance Turkey. The research conducted here will both develop technology and provide opportunities for scientists, ultimately leading to technological advancements and scientific progress in Turkey. Accelerator technology is very important globally, impacting many areas, and having such a facility in Turkey makes me happy."
Türk Hızlandırıcı ve Işınım Laboratuvarı (TARLA) ile Türkiye, süper iletken elektron hızlandırıcısı teknolojisine sahip 5 ülkeden biri oldu.
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