CMAM-UAM as part of the XXIV Science and Innovation Week

As every year, the Community of Madrid, through Madri+d Fundation for Knowledge, organizes the Science and Innovation Week, where thousands of activities related to various scientific disciplines from November 4th to 17th.

As part of the XXIV Science and Innovation Week, last November 6th took place the event From Theory to Practice: Navigating the World of Materials. This activity was organised by the Centre for Microanalysis of Materials (CMAM), which is a research center belonging to Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) whose main experimental tool is an electrostatic ion accelerator with a maximum terminal voltage of 5 MV, devoted to the analysis and modification of materials. Furthermore, CMAM is part of the distributed ICTS IABA, along with the National Center for Accelerators (CNA), with which it collaborates on various activities, including outreach efforts.

During this open-house event, the CMAM showed the particle accelerator to 80 participants. Divided into groups, participants could see the control room where CMAM researchers explained how the accelerator works. Continuing the tour, visitors went into the facility housing the accelerator and its six beamlines. Here, the versatility of the accelerator was shown as it enables research ranging from the modification and analysis of advanced materials using ion beam techniques, to neutron production through nuclear reactions induced by α particles, which hold interest in nuclear astrophysics, medical applications, and radiobiological research. Additionally, a small group had the unique opportunity to participate in a real experiment about luminescent materials.

You can see the gallery of images from Science Week at CMAM in the following link