●  The First Step Toward Elucidating "the violation of Charge-Parity (CP) symmetry" of Neutrinos in the T2K Experiment (August 7, Press Release)       The international T2K (Tokai to Kamioka) Collaboration has obtained experimental results suggesting that appearance as electron neutrinos occurs at different frequencies for neutrinos and antineutrinos, i.e., evidence of "the violation of Charge-Parity (CP) symmetry." In July 2013, the T2K experiment discovered neutrino oscillation, in which muon neutrinos change into electron neutrinos during flight, and in subsequent experiments, the oscillation phenomenon with antineutrinos, whereby muon antineutrinos change into electron antineutrinos, has been observed in order to experimentally clarify differences in properties between particles and antiparticles (CP violation) which are thought to hold the key to elucidating the origin of matter in the universe. In May of this year, the amount of antineutrinos produced and delivered to the Super Kamiokande detector was almost the same as the amount of neutrinos produced in the previous experiment. The group announced these experimental results at the International Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP) held in Chicago (USA) on August 8.    * Click here to enlarge.    ▲to Page Top

●  J-PARC Facilities Opened to the Public for the First Time in Four Years (July 31, J-PARC)       J-PARC facilities were recently opened to the public for the first time in four years (since 2012). At J-PARC, operations were stopped in the summer for maintenance, and various facilities which ordinary people cannot usually enter were opened to the public : the MR (Main Ring) accelerator (50 GeV synchrotron), beamlines employing superconducting magnets for neutrino experiments, the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) and Hadron Experimental Facility. At the J-PARC Research Building, completed in spring of last year, a booth was set up introducing facilities, research, safety efforts and other operations, and staff responded to the questions and concerns of visitors. Other events included a lecture meeting on state-of-the-art science, a talk event called "Elementary Particle Salon," a corner for asking any question regarding J-PARC, and a Science Cafe on the theme of hydrogen. There was a strong sense that everyone, from children to adults, all had a good time. This event was blessed with fine weather, and about 1,600 people attended, from both inside and outside the prefecture.    * Click here to enlarge.    ▲to Page Top

●  13th Annual Meeting of the Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (August 8-10, Chiba Makuhari Messe, International Conference Hall)       The Particle Accelerator Society of Japan held its annual meeting over three days, starting from August 8, at the International Conference Hall of Chiba Makuhari Messe. At this meeting, researchers and engineers in fields relating to accelerators presented results and exchanged information, and efforts were made to promote greater interaction and closer collaboration between research institutions. At this meeting, there were a total of about 370 oral and poster presentations, and of those about 60 were presentations relating to J-PARC. Dr. Yoshinori Kurimoto of Accelerator Section V gave an oral presentation on development of equipment relating to the J-PARC/MR, and was selected as one recipient of the Annual Meeting Award for outstanding presenters given to young researchers.    * Click here to enlarge.    ▲to Page Top

●  Facility Updates       (1) At the linac, washing work was carried out on the inner surface of the cavity for part of the separated-type drift tube linac (SDTL).       (2) At the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF), energetic progress is being made in preparatory work for internal investigation of weld points which caused problems in the mercury target vessel (No. 7).       (3) At the MR accelerator (50 GeV synchrotron), work was done to replace the high-frequency acceleration cavity.    * Click here to enlarge.    ▲to Page Top

●  FY2016 Meeting to Report on Industrial Use of J-PARC/MLF (July 21-22, Akihabara Convention Hall, Tokyo)       The J-PARC Center, Ibaraki Prefecture, Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS Tokai), and the Industrial Users Society for Neutron Application held meetings to report on neutron utilization at MLF, previously held separately, as the first joint Meeting to Report on Industrial Use of J-PARC/MLF. The meeting was held on July 21-22 in Tokyo, and was attended by about 250 participants from private companies, universities, research institutions, and other organizations. At sessions on the J-PARC/MLF, Ibaraki Prefecture Beamline (BL) and the shared BL, there were 19 reports, including two special lectures, on topics such as the latest research results. There was also a lively question-and-answer session.    * Click here to enlarge.    ▲to Page Top

●  J-PARC "Hello Science" Summer Vacation Classes Featuring Scientific Experiments - The Power of Waves is Extraordinary - (July 26, August 5 and 25, Tokai Village Library)       During the summer vacation, J-PARC Hello Science events were held three times for fifth and sixth grade elementary school students in Tokai Village. This year, students studied waves. It was explained that there are various types of waves, such as light waves and sound waves, and the properties of waves were considered by first looking at the familiar light from the sun. The blueness of the daytime sky in good weather, and the redness of the sky at sunset were explained using the properties of waves, and students experienced differences in how color appears in sunlight and fluorescent light by making a "light kaleidoscope." After that, students created experimental tools using straws, and learned how waves are propagated. At each class, there were about twice the original capacity of 12 students, thus showing the high degree of interest among elementary school students in the village.    * Click here to enlarge.    ▲to Page Top

●  Lecture "Neutrinos are Amazing! - Nobel Prizewinning Research has Changed the World -" (August 11, Ibaraki Science Museum of Atomic Energy)       The J-PARC Center held a lecture on the topic of research at J-PARC, as a summer vacation event at the Ibaraki Science Museum of Atomic Energy. Acting as the instructor, J-PARC public relations advisor Dr. Shinichi Sakamoto spoke in an easy-to-understand way about topics ranging from the fundamentals of neutrinos to the latest research results of the T2K experiment. Two sessions were held, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and many children came to listen to the lectures in a hall with capacity for 40. Participants said the explanations incorporating quizzes and video with sound effects were "interesting." They also had a chance to see a photomultiplier tube, displayed in the museum and the same as the one used a Super Kamiokande, and this seemed to give them a sense of the size of Super Kamiokande.    * Click here to enlarge.    ▲to Page Top