"I will keep trying to attend the Korea Particle Accelerator School in the future,” says KAIST freshman SIM Jaehyu. “The people I’ve met here and the skills I’ve learned are going to be put to use as a valuable resource for my dream." Jaehyu participating in his third KoPAS may be more familiar with these classes than other students, but he is second to none in being seriously absorbed in lectures. His interest in particle physics developed in his childhood, and more so since he first participated in KoPAS in 2014 when he was a junior in the Korea Science Academy of KAIST. He has been fascinated by this course and has a strong determination to attend this event every year.

This year KoPAS was held at Chungnam National University in Daejeon, from July 11 to 15.The organizer of this event is the Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP) of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in cooperation with the U.S. Particle Accelerator School (USPAS). The objective of the program is to encourage the participation of talented science students in accelerator and related science projects and also to develop a curriculum that will provide the necessary background for prospective researchers in accelerator science and nuclear physics. KoPAS was first held in 2012, and this year marks the fourth edition. This year, internationally prominent lecturers from USPAS were invited, and they led the programs focusing on specific topics about Radio Frequency (RF) systems, beam physics and beam diagnostics.

▲ Professor William Barletta, Director of USPAS (left) and Dr. John Byrd, Program Head of the Center for Beam Physics at LBNL (right) delivering lectures. Participating students had the opportunity to learn RF systems, beam physics and beam diagnostics directly from these two experts.

Students showed an avid interest in the Korea Particle Accelerator School. A total of 71 students attended this program, including 19 international students from Germany, China, Uzbekistan, Syria, Thailand, amongst others. These multinational students, including the eight who even flew from Thailand and Uzbekistan for the purpose of attending this program, devoted themselves to learning despite the sweltering July heat in Korea.

In line with the growing portion of participants who have studied electromagnetism, dynamics and relativity, advanced courses were prepared to meet the needs of these students keen to acquire expertise. The excellent cadre of instructors for the entire period of KoPAS 2016 included Dr. John Byrd, Program Head of the Center for Beam Physics at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in the U.S.A and Professor William Barletta, Director of USPAS who offered lectures on RF systems, beam physics and beam diagnostics. In addition, Dr. KIM Jong Won, Head of the System Installation Division of RISP at IBS, introduced a construction plan for the heavy-ion accelerator RAON, and participating students had the opportunity to visit the Superconducting RF Facility for RAON located at KAIST Munji Campus. Emeritus Professor Mannque Rho, a world-renowned nuclear physicist from the Saclay Nuclear Research Centre of the CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission), delivered a special lecture titled, "The proton mass mystery and compact stars."

▲ During KoPAS, participants toured the Superconducting RF Facility for RAON located at KAIST Munji Campus. Students are listening to explanation of laboratory equipment given by researchers at the laboratories.

Thanks to thorough preparation, KoPAS 2016 was well received among participants. Foosang Watanyu, from Thailand, studies electron accelerators and attended KoPAS to deepen his understanding of beam dynamics, "I am particularly impressed by the comparison between beam and pendulum. The professors are very active and put a great amount effort in teaching for a better understanding." The young Thai student added that he would attend the next KoPAS if he has the chance. Kongmali Kanlayaporn, also attended KoPAS 2016 with Mr. Watanyu, and expressed his wish to participate in the next edition of KoPAS because he wants the opportunity to study what he missed out on this time, and to emphasize what he studied again. He plans to take a course in particle accelerator in his university to gain a better background knowledge so that he can be fully prepared for the next KoPAS.

Interview with William A. Barletta (USPAS Director)

“Expecting successful collaborations between USPAS and KoPAS”

For more details about KoPAS 2016, we met with Professor William Barletta (USPAS Director)

1. What are the purposes of holding this event (KoPAS) and why particularly was this event held in Korea?
The Rare Isotope Science Project will bring a world-class accelerator RAON, to Korea for fundamental nuclear physics. The new machine will need many trained physicists and engineers to firstly build it then operate it and work closely with the users. Also, RAON is much different in technology than the machines that are presently operating in Korea. Right now IBS has a core of scientists to build the first phases of the project, but it needs more. KoPAS is designed to attract and train students with the specific knowledge for them to work on or use RAON or other accelerators in Korea. I should emphasize that KoPAS is the first step in their education in accelerator science.

▲ (left) During a break, students are engaged in discussion or (right) questioning Dr. John Byrd, Program, Head of the Center for Beam Physics at LBNL

2. What do you think about the Korean students who have participated in this event?
I am pleased to see so many interested students who are willing to work hard to learn a subject which is very different from the material that they have studied so far in their universities. This is a very good sign for the future of the laboratory that will be formed around the RAON accelerator.

3. How do you feel about holding the 4th Korea Particle Accelerator School?
I have been involved with teaching students about accelerators for more than 25 years. As the director of the U.S. Particle Accelerator School (USPAS), I have also been connected with the organization of KoPAS from its very first session. Our field of accelerator science is a truly international effort that brings together physicists and engineers from all parts of the world to work together and also to educate the next generation of scientists and engineers in our field. It gives me great pleasure to see a strong program of teaching accelerator science grow in Korea.

4. What are your future plans for KoPAS?
Our experience with USPAS is that there is a continuing need to offer an introduction to accelerator science each year. There is also a need to provide more specific advanced courses. This year the advanced course covered radio frequency power systems and accelerator instrumentation. I expect that the next KoPAS will also have an advanced course. I can tell you that I will be very happy to continue the successful collaboration between USPAS and KoPAS.