Outline of the utilisation plan for the superconducting cyclotron at VECC, Kolkata

The K-500 superconducting cyclotron being built at the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, would deliver a large variety of accelerated particle beams over wide range of energies (∼50-70 MeV protons, ∼10-50 MeV/A medium heavy ions up to A ∼60 and ∼5-20 MeV/A heavier ions). Thus, the new accelerator will open up new opportunities of research in frontier areas of intermediate energy nuclear physics, physics of nuclei away from β-stability line, as well as nuclear chemistry, condensed matter physics, particle therapy, etc. to mention a few. A comprehensive programme for the utilisation of the superconducting cyclotron has been chalked out in consultation with the national users' community. A brief outline of the proposed utilisation programme is presented here. (author)