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  • Status

    Status

    More information about the status of an electron-ion collider can be found in the documents linked below. In 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued a report, “An Assessment of U.S.-Based Electron-Ion Collider Science.” Following the report, the directors of Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and Brookhaven National Laboratory issued a joint statement of support. More information about the impetus for building an electron-ion collider can be found in the 2015 Long-Range Plan, issued by the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee..

     

  • Benefits

    Benefits

    Beyond sparking scientific discoveries in a new frontier of fundamental physics, an Electron-Ion Collider will trigger technological breakthroughs that have broad-ranging impacts on human health and national challenges. Research on the technologies needed to make this machine a reality is already pushing the evolution of magnets and other particle accelerator components. 
     
    Some of these advances could lead to energy-efficient accelerators, thereby dramatically shrinking the size and operating costs of accelerators used across science and industry for example, to make and test computer chips; to deliver energetic particle beams to zap cancer cells; to study and design improved sustainable energy technologies such as solar cells, batteries, and catalysts; and to develop new kinds of drugs and other medical treatments. New methods of particle detection developed for an EIC could also lead to advances in medical imaging and national security. 
     
    In truth, it’s nearly impossible to predict what will come from the knowledge gained from an EIC. History shows that applications springing from a deeper understanding of matter and fundamental forces things like GPS, microelectronics, and radiological techniques for diagnosing and treating disease often emerge many years after the foundational physics discoveries that make them possible. 
     
    But one thing is certain: Building the experiments that inspire and train the next generation of scientific explorers is essential for maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear science and for developing the high-tech workforce needed to address some of our nation’s deepest challenges.

     

  • Design

    Design

    "Design"

    The Electron-Ion Collider would consist of two intersecting accelerators, one producing an intense beam of electrons, the other a beam of either protons or heavier atomic nuclei, which are then steered into head-on collisions.

    The accelerators will be designed so that both beams can be polarized to around 70 percent for electrons, protons and light nuclei. Electrons will be able to probe particles from protons to the heaviest stable nuclei at a very wide range of energies, starting from 20–100 billion electron-volts (GeV), upgradable to approximately 140 GeV, to produce images of the particles’ interiors at higher and higher resolution. At least one detector and possibly more would analyze thousands of particle collisions per second, amassing the data required to tease out the smallest effects required for significant discoveries.

    Building the EIC will require the same core expertise that led to the versatility of the polarized proton and heavy ion beams at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the unique polarized electron beam properties of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. These two Department of Energy laboratories have been collaborating on initial studies and developing designs that make use of key existing infrastructure and capitalize on investments in science and technology. Each design approach would require the development of innovative accelerator and detector technologies to answer the questions described in this brochure.

     

  • Goals

    Goals

    There are many scientific questions that researchers expect an Electron-Ion Collider will allow them to answer. Among them are four main topics of study. 

     

    3D Structure of Protons and Nuclei
    3D Structure of Protons and Nuclei
    Scientists would use the Electron-Ion Collider to take three-dimensional precision snapshots of the internal structure of protons and atomic nuclei. As they pierce through the larger particles, the high-energy electrons will interact with the internal microcosm to reveal unprecedented details—zooming in beyond the simplistic structure of three valence quarks bound by a mysterious force. Recent experiments indicate that gluons—the glue-like carriers of the strong nuclear force that binds quarks together—multiply and appear to linger within particles accelerated close to the speed of light, and play a significant role in establishing key properties of protons and nuclear matter. By taking images at a range of energies, an EIC will reveal features of this “ocean” of gluons and the “sea” of quark-antiquark pairs that form when gluons split—allowing scientists to map out the particles’ distribution and movement within protons and nuclei, similar to the way medical imaging technologies construct 3D dynamic images of the brain. These studies may help reveal how the energy of the massless gluons is transformed through Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc2, to generate most of the mass of visible matter.
    Solving the Mystery of Proton Spin
    Solving the Mystery of Proton Spin
    The Electron-Ion Collider would be the world’s first polarized electron-proton collider where both the electron and proton beams have their spins aligned in a controllable way. This polarization makes it possible to make precision measurements of how a proton’s constituent quarks and gluons and their interactions contribute to the proton’s intrinsic angular momentum, or spin. Spin influences the proton’s optical, electrical, and magnetic characteristics and makes technologies such as MRI scanning work, but its origin has eluded physicists ever since experiments in the 1980s revealed that quarks can account for only about a third of the total spin. More recent experiments show that gluons make a significant contribution, perhaps even more than the quarks. An Electron-Ion Collider would produce definitive measurements of the gluons’ contributions, including how their movements within the proton microcosm affect its overall spin structure—thus providing the final pieces needed to solve this longstanding puzzle.
    Search for Saturation
    Search for Saturation
    Capturing the dynamic action of gluons within protons and nuclei will give scientists a way to test their understanding of these particles’ ephemeral properties. As gluons flit in and out of the vacuum, multiplying and recombining, scientists suspect they may reach a steady state of saturation called a “color glass condensate.” This unique form of nuclear matter gets its name from the “color” charges that mediate the interactions of the strong nuclear force, and the dense, glasslike walls these particles are thought to form in nuclei accelerated to nearly the speed of light, seemingly suspended by the effects of time dilation. Scientists will use the Electron-Ion Collider to search for definitive proof of whether this form of matter exists, and test the limits of gluons’ ability to expand beyond the bounds of a single proton/ neutron inside a nucleus. They’ll also explore the mechanism that keeps gluon growth in check, like a lid clamping down on an overflowing popcorn pot. Precisely measuring the strength of the gluon fields, which constitute the strongest fields found in nature, will tell us how gluons interact with each other and how they contribute to building the bulk of visible matter in the universe today.
    Quark and Gluon Confinement
    Quark and Gluon Confinement
    Experiments at an EIC would offer novel insight into why quarks or gluons can never be observed in isolation, but must transform into and remain confined within protons and nuclei. The EIC—with its unique combinations of high beam energies and intensities—would cast fresh light into quark and gluon confinement, a key puzzle in the Standard Model of physics.
  • About

    About

    The Electron-Ion Collider is a proposed machine for delving deeper than ever before into the building blocks of matter, so that we may better understand the matter within us and its role in the universe around us.

    Learn more about this first-of-its-kind machine in the documents linked below.

     

  • Creative Energy. Supercharged with Science.

    Accelerate your career with a new role at the nation's newest national laboratory. Here you can be part of a team exploring the building blocks of matter and lay the ground work for scientific discoveries that will reshape our understanding of the atomic nucleus. Join a community with a common purpose of solving the most challenging scientific and engineering problems of our time.

     

    Title Job ID Category Date Posted
    Scientific Data and Computing Department Head 13383 Computer
    Accounts Payable Assistant 13397 Accounting
    Survey and Alignment Technician (Metrology) 13385 Misc./Trades
    Magnet Group Staff Engineer 13370 Engineering
    SRF Production Chemistry Supervisor 13386 Technology
    Fusion Project Technician 13389 Misc./Trades
    HPDF Project Director 13373 Computer
    Data Center Operations Manager 13327 Engineering
    Master HVAC Technician 13367 Misc./Trades
    Mechanical Engineer III 13140 Engineering
    Electrical Engineer (Sustainability) 13364 Engineering
    CIS Postdoctoral Fellow 13102 Science
    Storage Solutions Architect 13238 Computer
    DC Power Systems Electrical Engineer 13371 Engineering
    Multimedia Intern 13215 Public Relations
    High Throughput Computing (HTC) Hardware Engineer 13197 Computer
    MPGD Development Physicist 13381 Science
    Finance Business Manager 13365 Accounting
    IT Project Manager 13340 Clerical/Admin
    Software Administrator - Facilities Management/Integration 13395 Computer
    SRF Accelerator Physicist 13359 Science
    Project Controls Analyst 13302 Clerical/Admin
    Lead Magnet Engineer 13366 Engineering
    Magnet Group Mechanical/Electrical Designer 13388 Misc./Trades
    Geant4 Developer 13214 Computer
    Communications Office Student Intern 13310 Public Relations
    Hall A Technologist/Design Drafter 13285 Engineering
    Vacuum Engineer 13396 Engineering
    Deputy CNI Manager 13378 Computer
    ES&H Department Head 13338 Engineering
    Project Services and Support Office Manager 13330 Management
    ES&H Inspection Program Lead 13323 Environmental Safety
    RadCon Manager 13337 Environmental Safety
    Radiation Control Technician 13391 Technology
    DC Power Group Leader 13380 Engineering

    A career at Jefferson Lab is more than a job. You will be part of “big science” and work alongside top scientists and engineers from around the world unlocking the secrets of our visible universe. Managed by Jefferson Science Associates, LLC; Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is entering an exciting period of mission growth and is seeking new team members ready to apply their skills and passion to have an impact. You could call it work, or you could call it a mission. We call it a challenge. We do things that will change the world.

    Welcome from Stuart Henderson, Lab Director
    Why choose Jefferson Lab
    • PASSION AND PURPOSE
      Middle School Science Bowl competitors huddle together to brainstorm the answer.
    • PASSION AND PURPOSE
      Local teachers share ideas for a classroom activity with other teachers during Teacher Night.
    • PASSION AND PURPOSE
      Two young learners hold up a model of the atom during Deaf Science Camp.
    • PASSION AND PURPOSE
      Staff Scientist Douglas Higinbotham snaps a selfie with some of the postdoc students he is mentoring.

    At Jefferson Lab we believe in giving back to our community and encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers. Our staff reaches out to students to advance awareness and appreciation of the range of research carried out within the DOE national laboratory system, to increase interest in STEM careers for women and minorities, and to encourage everyone to become a part of the next-generation STEM workforce. We are recognized for our innovative programs like:

    • 1,500 students from 15 Title I schools engage in the Becoming Enthusiastic About Math and Science (BEAMS) program at the lab each school year.

    • 60 teachers are enrolled in the Jefferson Science Associates Activities for Teachers (JSAT) program at the lab inspiring 9,000 students annually.

    • 24 high school students have internships and 34 college students have mentorships at the lab.

       

    Facebook posts
    Meet our people
    • Scott Conley, Environmental Management Team

      Nature: All in a day’s work

      Scott Conley, an environmental engineer for Jefferson Lab, grew up the son of an outdoorsman, and the grandson of a half-Cherokee grandmother. Stories of nature - listening to nature, and readings its signs - filled his childhood. “I can see the bottom of the leaves on the trees,” Conley said, re-enacting the first time he heard this lesson from his father. “That means the pressure is changing and it’s probably going to storm.”

      Born in Newport News and raised in Hampton, Virginia, Conley grew up fishing and hunting alongside his dad, who worked for the shipyard. Immersed in nature, Conley became fascinated with biology early on. He was always drawn to “the interactions of things in nature and animals,” Conley said. “I’ve always had a close connection to them.” After high school, Conley studied environmental science at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington, where he met his wife, also an environmental consultant, and spent 14 years of life there becoming a subject matter expert. In March 2010, he discovered a position at Jefferson Lab that would allow him to move back to his hometown and work within his interests.

      Environmental stewardship at its best

      Conley’s days are busy with various types of missions. After a cup of tea, he is off tackling his to-do lists which range from crafting reports to the Commonwealth, proper waste disposal, contaminant assessments, Erosion & sediment control inspections, and pollution prevention monitoring. His job also includes educating the scientists and staff at Jefferson Lab on environmental-friendly best management practices.

      Guided by regulations set by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), Environmental Protection Agency, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Conley’s job is to lessen the footprint, or environmental impact of Jefferson Laboratory operations, by working with the scientists and staff to characterize or profile waste, ensure proper disposal, and report the technical approaches and processes to the State. "There is world-class research going on here,” Conley explained. “Any given day you can be in the room with genius physicists and that’s just amazing.”

      But Conley’s job is to guarantee the research they are doing, which can sometimes produce contamination materials, is not harming the environment. After reviewing drawings and project specifics, Conley confirms everything that will be generated is disposed of safely and per regulations so that the research may continue without environmental repercussions. “We have to do our due diligence,” Conley said, mentioning that Jefferson Lab is responsible for its waste stream from the cradle to the grave. “We check all of the boxes to make sure it’s not going to impact the environment.” Those boxes include monitoring the environment around Jefferson Lab. Testing the ground water and soil, quarterly, bi-annually or annually. These are checkpoints, a way of listening to the environment around the lab and monitoring how it’s reacting to any activity done by the lab.

      “We have to treat our staff here like we’re our own small town,” Conley said. “We teach about management practices, and finding environmentally-friendly alternatives.” Conley’s hopes for the lab are to become even more self-sustaining, continue in-depth and impactful education, and reducing the lab’s footprint.  “Once you know, you can’t ignore it,” Conley said, talking of improper disposal of environmental contaminants or behaviors that lead to harming the environment. 

      Life at home & The Green Team

      Husband to Amy, and father to a young son and daughter, Scotty and Jasmine - who think their dad’s job is to “keep the water clean” - Conley enjoys sharing time with them. The family attends Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes together, around three times a week. Conley also enjoys surfing, a hobby he’s pursued since he was 12. “There is nothing more humbling than the ocean,” Conley commented.

      Conley said he’s always aimed for a fulfilling life, one full of nature, faith, a solid career, and seeing his family prosper. A fan of music, ranging from reggae to blues and gospel, he is thankful for a job that intermingles work with his passions. A direct example of this intermingling is The Green Team, which happens to be the name of the Jefferson Lab Environmental Management Team, a name proposed by Conley, voted on, and accepted by the team. But it also happens to be the name of his college band where he played the drums. “The team doesn’t know that,” Conley said, laughing and making a note to tell them about his environmentally-friendly band days.

      Conley’s life is full of protecting the environment by day, and enjoying activities with family during time off. A dream he once wished for while spending time with his dad on the water’s edge. “This job has helped me prosper: to do the things I like to do and watch my family prosper too,” Conley said. “I just want to keep making this lab a better place.”

      As an environmental engineer, Conley helps the lab with pollution prevention and environmental regulatory compliance. First, the generator of a waste has to be able to explain what the waste is made of. If the waste or any part of it is identified as hazardous then a hazardous waste technician has to safely collect and store the waste. After scheduling a pickup with the waste management vendor, the waste is carefully transported to be neutralized or disposed of.  Jefferson Lab’s Environmental Protection Program is outlined in the 8000 chapters of the ES&H Manual.

      Link: https://www.jlab.org/ehs/ehsmanual/8000.html

      Every year the lab produces a Site Environmental Report; they are archived at: https://www.jlab.org/ehs/ser/

       

    Youtube videos

    The Jefferson Lab campus is located in southeastern Virginia amidst a vibrant and growing technology community with deep historical roots that date back to the founding of our nation. Staff members can live on or near the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region or find peace in the deeply wooded coastal plain. You will have easy access to nearby beaches, mountains, and all major metropolitan centers along the United States east coast.

    To learn more about the region and its museums, wineries, parks, zoos and more, visit the Virginia tourism page, Virginia is for Lovers

    To learn more about life at Jefferson Lab, click here.

     

    We support our inventors! The lab provides resources to employees for the development of patented technology -- with over 180 awarded to date! Those looking to obtain patent coverage for their newly developed technologies and inventions while working at the lab are supported and mentored by technology experts, from its discovery to its applied commercialization, including opportunities for monetary awards and royalty sharing. Learn more about our patents and technologies here.

    • Kim Edwards
      Kim Edwards
      IT Division/Information Resource

      "When I’m 95 years old, I hope I will be one of those people who worked in the background to affect other people’s lives for the better."

    • Jian-Ping Chen
      Jian-Ping Chen
      Senior Staff Scientist

      “Every time we solve problems, we contribute. It’s exciting times for new results and discoveries.”

    • Ron Lassiter
      Ron Lassiter
      Mechanical Designer

      “Here at the lab you get to see what you’ve worked on. You can hold it in your hands. It’s rewarding to know that you’ve played a part in helping the machine to be successful.”

    • Scott Conley
      Scott Conley
      Environmental Management Team

      "There is world-class research going on here. Any given day you can be in the room with genius physicists and that’s just amazing.”

    • Welding Program Manager
      Jenord Alston
      Welding Program Manager

      "Everybody in the chain is working towards the same goal: to ensure that everything is built safe and to the code specifications"

    Jefferson Science Associates, LLC manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Jefferson Science Associates/Jefferson Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

    If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting @jlab.org or call (757) 269-7100 between 8 am – 5 pm EST to provide the nature of your request.

    "Proud V3-Certified Company"

    A Proud V3-Certified Company
    JSA/Jefferson Lab values the skills, experience and expertise veterans can offer due to the myriad of experiences, skill sets and knowledge service members achieve during their years of service. The organization is committed to recruiting, hiring, training and retaining veterans, and its ongoing efforts has earned JSA/Jefferson Lab the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certification, awarded by the Commonwealth of Virginia.