A proton therapy 230MeV superconducting cyclotron constructed by China National Nuclear Corporation completed installation and tests at the China Institute of Atomic Energy, or CIAE, on Feb 13, and has entered the third stage of on-site installation and commissioning involving high-frequency exercises, according to a statement by CNNC.

CNNC said the installation and tests of the main process equipment and support facilities of the accelerator were completed and multi-system debugging of the equipment had begun.

A worker checks the proton therapy 230MeV superconducting cyclotron. [Photo/CNNC]

Experts said that in early February, the institute’s Department of Nuclear Technology Application made a breakthrough in scientific research -- obtaining a laboratory image using cosmic ray muon imaging technology for the first time. 

The cosmic ray is a high-energy ray, which has a strong penetrating power. Muon detection technology has gradually developed into a new method in nuclear counter-terrorism inspection and other fields.

On Feb 19, the CIAE’s important platform for the industrialization of its radiation accelerators -- the Yuanke Henghui Technology production facility -- officially began construction within three months of its registration.

Officials said that since Feb 10, the CIAE had ramped up  its overall operations, accelerating major projects amid the overall preparations in China for novel coronavirus epidemic prevention and control.