Radiation Effects Testing FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions about ProNova Radiation Effects Testing.

How much does ProNova charge for Radiation Effects testing?

Facility rental fees for testing are charged by the hour and require a minimum of 8 hours daily. When requesting and confirming facility rental hours for testing, the setup and teardown hours need to be calculated and added to the facility rental hours. Price adjustments are available for 50 hours or more.

What customer service and support does ProNova provide for my testing?

ProNova recognizes, respects, and aligns with customer goals to meet desired testing objectives and outcomes by offering superior customer service in both technical and operational support. A month prior to a customer’s arrival, the ProNova physics team dedicates time to verify and complete proton beam calibrations to meet the required test conditions specified in the User Beam Request Form. In addition, the physics team turns on and pre-tests all accelerator and beamline equipment to ensure testing is completed accurately and can begin on time upon arrival with confidence. Once customers are onsite for testing, ProNova assigns trained and experienced staff to accommodate customer needs. An accelerator operator is on site at all times and a supervising physicist is available on-call as needed.

Where is the ProNova testing site located?

ProNova Solutions is the service provider for Radiation Effects Testing at the Thompson Proton Center located in Knoxville, TN:

6450 Provision Cares Way
Knoxville, TN 37909

Where do I ship my equipment to the ProNova testing site?

You may ship your equipment directly to the testing site. Please provide approximate size, weight, and date of delivery of test equipment in advance of shipping:

Thompson Proton Center – Covenant Health
C/O ProNova Solutions Rad Effects
ATTN: Jewell Overton or Casey Corbridge
6450 Provision Cares Way 
Knoxville, TN 37909 

Is there a minimum number of daily test hours required by ProNova?

The minimum testing hours required is eight (8) hours per day.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation notice of a confirmed reservation must be given at least 21 days prior to the start of the facility rental period. Details are based on payment terms and can be discussed with the Director of Support Services & Radiation Effects.

What cable length is needed for testing at the ProNova testing site?

Distance from data acquisition to the vault is just a few meters. Maximum cable run is about 60 feet and usually much shorter.

How far is the target station from the data acquisition area at the ProNova testing site?

Distance from data acquisition to the vault is just a few meters. Maximum cable run is about 60 feet and usually much shorter.

How long does it take to switch the energy between tests at ProNova?

We offer convenient and efficient energy changes that take between 5-10 minutes.

Does ProNova have shielding materials available?

Yes, we provide 5% Borated High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) for shielding equipment from neutrons.

What determines the maximum and minimum flux with ProNova SC360?

Maximum and minimum flux is determined through various means such as cyclotron intensity limits, beam transmission, and radiation safety. Learn more about our beam flux guidelines here

What are the calibrated proton energies of the ProNova SC360?

The SC360 proton beam energies between 50 MeV and 200 MeV can be calibrated for testing.

What is the ProNova SC360 field size range?

The ProNova SC360 offers broad beam field size ranging from 15 mm square to 40 cm diameter circle.

What are the ProNova SC360 proton flux ranges?

The ProNova SC360 proton flux can range from less than 1.0E+04 p/cm2/s to 1.0E+09 p/cm2/s depending on the energy and shape of the beam.

What are typical proton fluences reached by the ProNova SC360?

Customers typically target proton fluences between 1.0E+10 p/cm2 to 1.0E+12 p/cm2

What degrader is used with a high flux beam setup?

The ProNova SC360 uses an acrylic degrader with high flux setups at low energy (100 MeV and below).

How do you handle downtime?

Fortunately, ProNova does not experience much downtime; however, system downtime can be an expected occurrence on occasion. In instances of beam downtime, ProNova will issue an extension of facility rental availability for a future date.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

Should you have more questions, please refer to the Radiation Effects Contact page.

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