The radiological research accelerator facility at Columbia University

Abstract

The Radiological Research Accelerator Facility located at the Nevis Laboratories of Columbia University is a laboratory dedicated to bio-physics research. Its principal component is a 4 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator which produces protons, deuterons and other ions. The most important secondary radiation is neutrons of energies from about 100 keV to 18 MeV. In addition, diatomic and triatomic beams of protons and deuterons are employed in a special study. The biological effects of these radiations are compared with those of more conventional X-ray sources which are also available. The biological effects are correlated with physical aspects of the irradiation which include not only accurate measurements of the absorbed dose (the mean energy absorbed per unit mass of irradiated tissue) but also microdosimetry research which evaluates the distribution of energy at cellular and subcellular levels. Differences in these distributions can greatly affect the biological effectiveness of a given absorbed dose. The facility will be described, brief outlines of some of the biological and physical studies given and general implications of results discussed.