June 26, 2014

Fire shuts down Stanford linear accelerator (Update)

Crews fight fire at Stanford linear accelerator
This undated image provided by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory shows an aerial view of the SLAC site, looking west. Authorities say a smoky fire at the Stanford Linear Accelerator late Wednesday evening June 25, 2014 forced the closure of the nearby interstate, but the blaze didn't cause any injuries or pose a threat to the public. (AP Photo/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

The linear accelerator at Stanford University's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California is shut down and two research labs idled after a fire damaged electrical equipment that helps power the accelerator.

SLAC spokesman Andrew Gordon said on Thursday he didn't know when the accelerator would be back up and running. SLAC conducts research in high-energy physics and subatomic particles.

Gordon said the fire was confined to a school locker-sized electrical cabinet in a building above the accelerator, which is underground. The cause is under investigation.

There was some minor smoke damage around the cabinet, but the accelerator itself was not damaged.

Gordon said the fire also did not create any threat to the public.

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Fire shuts down Stanford linear accelerator (Update) (2014, June 26) retrieved 22 December 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2014-06-crews-blaze-stanford-linear.html
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