Restoration of Accelerator Facilities Damaged by Great East Japan Earthquake at Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University

• Published in: The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine Vol. 233; no. 4; pp. 221 - 231
• Main Authors: Wakui, Takashi, Itoh, Masatoshi, Shimada, Kenzi, Yoshida, Hidetomo P., Shinozuka, Tsutomu, Sakemi, Yasuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Tohoku University Medical Press 2014
• Subjects: accelerator; cyclotron; Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center; Cyclotrons; Disaster Planning; earthquake; Earthquakes; Electromagnetic Phenomena; Humans; Japan; Particle Accelerators; positron emission tomography; Radioisotopes; Universities; Japan
• ISSN: 0040-8727; 1349-3329
• DOI: 10.1620/tjem.233.221

The Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center (CYRIC) of Tohoku University is a joint-use institution for education and research in a wide variety of fields ranging from physics to medicine. Accelerator facilities at the CYRIC provide opportunities for implementing a broad research program, including medical research using positron emission tomography (PET), with accelerated ions and radioisotopes. At the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, no human injuries occurred and a smooth evacuation was made in the CYRIC, thanks to the anti-earthquake measures such as the renovation of the cyclotron building in 2009 mainly to provide seismic strengthening, fixation of shelves to prevent the falling of objects, and securement of the width of the evacuation route. The preparation of an emergency response manual was also helpful. However, the accelerator facilities were damaged because of strong shaking that continued for a few minutes. For example, two columns on which a 930 cyclotron was placed were damaged, and thereby the 930 cyclotron was inclined. All the elements of beam transport lines were deviated from the beam axis. Some peripheral devices in a HM12 cyclotron were broken. Two shielding doors fell from the carriage onto the floor and blocked the entrances to the rooms. The repair work on the accelerator facilities was started at the end of July 2011. During the repair work, the joint use of the accelerator facilities was suspended. After the repair work was completed, the joint use was re-started at October 2012, one and a half years after the earthquake.