Turkish scientists perform first irradiation experiment at TARLA facility

Turkish scientists performed their first irradiation experiment in May using the accelerator infrastructure they established with their own means at the TARLA facility located on Ankara University's Gölbaşı campus. According to a statement by the Council of Higher Education, glass and plexiglass samples were exposed to gamma rays obtained from accelerated electrons during the experiment.

In the experiment carried out in May at the TARLA facility located on Ankara University's Gölbaşı campus, glass and plexiglass samples were exposed to gamma rays obtained from accelerated electrons. As a result of the experiment, changes in the color of the glass and distortions and fractures in the structure of the plexiglass were observed. These results showed that Turkey is able to examine the behavior of materials against radiation using its own infrastructure.

TARLA Director Dr. Özlem Karslı stated that they irradiated material samples for the first time with the accelerator system they established themselves, and that with these experiments, Turkey has crossed an important threshold in the scientific community. TARLA Accelerator Unit Manager Barış Yıldırım Demir noted that this study is a turning point for TARLA and that electrons were accelerated using superconducting modules for the first time in Turkey.