Exploring Proton Beams: Hands-On Accelerator Assemblies for Middle Schoolers

In this engaging STEM program for 5th–8th grade students, young scientists will explore how magnet assemblies bend and shape proton beams. Designed for teamwork and hands-on learning, each submodule can be built by small groups of 2–3 students in about an hour.

The accelerator is composed of several major systems, including the Front End, Warm Linac, Superconducting Linac, High Energy Beam Transport, Accumulator Ring, Ring-To-Target Beamline, and the Mercury Target. Each major system is further divided into subsystems and submodules, providing a deeper look into the structure and function of particle accelerators.

The corner assembly is a subsystem of the Accumulator Ring and consists of 10 submodules. It is designed for an entire class of 20–25 students to build together, offering a hands-on, collaborative experience that brings the principles of particle physics to life!