J-PARC stands for Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, a state-of-the-art accelerator research facility in Japan. J-PARC is a joint project of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK).
The research conducted at J-PARC's experimental facilities covers a wide range. For example, some scientists explore material and life science through atomic-scale observations. Others study elementary particles and atomic nuclei to unravel the mysteries of the dawn of the universe. Here at J-PARC, a world-class, high-intensity beam of protons is accelerated to nearly the speed of light. The various secondary particle beams, neutrons, muons, neutrinos, kaons, etc., are produced in nucleus spallation with the proton beam. These secondary particle beams are used in a wide variety of experiments.
J-PARC welcomes many researchers not only from Japan but also from overseas to its three accelerator facilities such as Linac, RCS of the 3 GeV synchrotron, MR of the main ring, and three experimental facilities such as the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility, Neutrino Experimental Facility, and Hadron Experimental Facility, as well as for research related to the nuclear transmutation technology under construction. Scientists then work with collaborators to advance diverse research and development activities, from basic science to industrial applications.
2001 | April JAEA and KEK signed a cooperative agreement on the construction, research, and development of J-PARC. December Construction of J-PARC facilities started. |
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2005 | August JAEA and KEK signed a cooperative agreement on the management of J-PARC. |
2006 | February J-PARC center was established. |
2007 | January Expected energy was achieved at Linac. October Expected energy was achieved at RCS. |
2008 | May First beam was successfully received for neutron target at MLF. September First beam was successfully received for muon target at MLF. December Initial target energy (30 GeV) was achieved at MR. December Utilization of the Materials and Life Sciences Facility (MLF) was started. |
2009 | January Hadron Experimental Facility was completed. March Neutrino Experimental Facility was completed. July Neutron Beam Facility of J-PARC was designated as a facility subject to Public Utilization Promotion Act. November First neutrino was successfully observed by the T2K near neutrino detector. December The world's highest intensity of muon generation per pulse was confirmed at MLF. |
2011 | March Operation was suspended due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. |
2012 | January Operation resumed and user operation started. November The world's highest intensity of neutron generation per pulse was confirmed at MLF. |
2013 | May Incident at the Hadron Experimental Facility occurred. |
2014 | January Energy upgrade was achieved at Linac. |
2015 | January Short pulse 1 MW was achieved at MLF. April User operation resumed at Hadron Experimental Facility. |
2018 | July Continuous operation with a beam power equivalent to 1 MW was succeeded at MLF. |
2019 | September J-PARC 10th Anniversary Ceremony and J-PARC Symposium 2019 were held. |
2020 | April Operation and user operation were suspended due to COVID-19. June 36.5 hours of 1 MW user operation was implemented. February Hyper-Kamiokande Project started. |
2021 | June Samples from asteroid Ryugu were analyzed at J-PARC. |
2022 | March International users resumed experimentation for the first time in two years after the coronavirus disaster. |