Thank you for
showing an interest in RARAF. We hope you will be able to find the answers
to all your questions about our facility. What would you
like to know?
What is RARAF?
RARAF is a facility for radiobiological
research with ionizing radiations such as protons, alpha particles, neutrons
and soft X-rays. Its overall objective is to provide users with well-defined
radiation beams, which can be used as a probe of biological structure
or function.
Who uses RARAF?
Because it is the only such facility in the
U.S., RARAF is extensively used by the radiation research community, both
for basic scientific research (in which particulate radiations are used as
highly-defined probes), and for pragmatic research, such as the fields of
radon and space radiation effects.
Where can I read about the
research performed at RARAF?
A list of papers
that reference RARAF is
available for those interested. Some more recent
papers about the microbeam facility and research are available online in
Adobe PDF format.
What is experimental
setup at RARAF?
RARAF has a 5 MV Singletron Accelerator,
which produces beams of positive light ions. These charged
particles are used to irradiate biological materials directly, or
to produce monoenergetic neutrons that
irradiate the biological material. RARAF also provides users with facilities
and services such as dosimetry and microdosimetry, cell culture laboratories,
x-ray machines, and computer support.
What's special about
the Columbia microbeam?
The single-particle
microbeam facility at RARAF is fully automated. It is possible
to expose individual cells to an exact number of
a-particles,
including one, at a rate of more than one per second. This speed has allowed
large experiments to be performed with mutation and oncogenic transformation
as the biological endpoints, as well as all lethality and chromosomal
aberration endpoints. This unique facility has made it possible to
perform experiments that directly challenge some long-standing dogmas of
radiation biology. For example, it has been possible to demonstrate clearly
the existence of a "bystander effect" for both mutation and oncogenic
transformation. The bystander effect is defined to be a biological effect in
cells that are not themselves traversed by a charged particle but that are
close neighbors of cells that are.
What is the long-term goal
of RARAF?
The long-term goal of RARAF is to provide
those state-of-the-art radiation sources, which can be used to address
contemporary biological questions. In general, because of the precise
dosimetry achievable with these radiation sources, radiations can act
as unique probes into biological function.
How has RARAF been made
more user-friendly?
From many years of experience using RARAF
as a tool for visiting biologists, we are strongly aware of the need for
support staff and facilities. RARAF has two dedicated
biology labs, containing six cell handling benches, seven incubators,
a Coulter counter, pH meters, balances, distilled water generator, sterilizers,
water baths, and several microscopes. These labs are a few seconds walk
from the irradiation areas. The facility also has a fully equipped workshop
with four experienced machinists, who routinely design and build specialized
instrumentation. Finally, to supplement biology experiments undertaken
at this technologically complex facility, RARAF provides a staff experienced
in providing consultation and technical assistance to facility users.
What is the schedule
at RARAF this month?
The current
monthly schedule is currently
available in Adobe PDF.
How can I get an
experiment request form?
Please contact Steve Marino, the manager of
the facility, at (914) 591-9244, to discuss the proposed experiment, and read the
instructions before filling out the
experiment request form. Once an experiment is approved,
it will also be necessary to complete and return the experiment scheduling form, for
which instructions are also available.
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