B738

Introduction

The ISOLDE (Isotope Separator Online Device) facility, built in the early 1990s and located on the CERN site in Meyrin, produces radioisotopes for research in fundamental and applied physics, particularly in nuclear medicine for innovative cancer treatments.  The complex is facing ageing infrastructure issues and the Isolde Beam Dump Replacement and Sustainability (IBDRS) project aims to ensure the sustainability of the complex by replacing beam stops with a new, more accessible and efficient system.

Objectives

The implementation of the IBDRS project is divided into three phases:

➢ Phase 1: Excavation of the soil (of which about 20% is considered radioactive) on top of the existing infrastructure in the target area and removal of the shielding blocks around the beam stops and the beam stops themselves;

❖ Activity carried out from January 2026 to August 2026

➢ Phase 2: Construction of a new underground technical building (B.738) above the existing ISOLDE target area, access galleries (B.734 and B.736) and their covering with all the soil excavated in Phase 1 (radioactive and non-radioactive) for shielding and radiation protection reasons.

❖ Planned activity from September 2026 to July 2027

➢ Phase 3: Installation of two new water-cooled beam stops, compatible with operation at 2 GeV and 6 uA, and surrounded by reinforced shielding with concrete and steel elements within the new technical building (B.738).

❖ Activity planned from Q3/2027 by other contractors to be mandated by CERN.

Gallery