The KEK high-energy physics laboratory in Japan has established a new prize – the KEK Technology prize – to encourage its engineers to tackle technical challenges.
The first winners were five KEK engineers who contributed to outstanding advancements in technology related to KEK’s research activities.
Takashi Koriki developed a high-density read-out PC board made of a copper polyimid hybrid film and carbon radiator fins for the ATLAS silicon strip module.
Takashi Kosuge received his award for his invention of an intelligent interlock system for the beamline area in the synchrotron radiation facility.
Hirokatsu Ohata and Masahisa Iida’s team were also among the winners for their innovative refrigerator system – using two existing small refrigerators – that provided liquid helium to the team developing focusing magnets for CERN’s LHC machine.
The fourth prize, which went to Toshikazu Takatomi, was for the ultraprecision machining for the proposed X band linear accelerator. The unprecedented precision made it possible to build the accelerating structure by a unique method – the diffusion bonding of discs.
With the increasing importance of technical breakthroughs to the future of high-energy physics, the management at KEK is keen to encourage its engineers to exercise their creativity, and hopes to continue to award the prize in the coming years.
