Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KOLKATA308
2009-11-20 11:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
KOLKATA'S VARIABLE ENERGY CYCLOTRON CENTER SEEKS ACCELERATED
how-toVZCZCXRO3868 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH DE RUEHCI #0308/01 3241106 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 201106Z NOV 09 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2498 INFO RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 1010 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 1013 RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD 0076 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2388 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 3114
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000308
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/STC, SCA/INSB, VO/L/C, EEB/ESC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY TRGY TSPL CVIS ECON IN
SUBJECT: KOLKATA'S VARIABLE ENERGY CYCLOTRON CENTER SEEKS ACCELERATED
U.S.-INDIA SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000308
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/STC, SCA/INSB, VO/L/C, EEB/ESC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY TRGY TSPL CVIS ECON IN
SUBJECT: KOLKATA'S VARIABLE ENERGY CYCLOTRON CENTER SEEKS ACCELERATED
U.S.-INDIA SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
1. (SBU) Summary: The Variable Energy Cyclotron Center
(VECC) in Kolkata, a premier institute of the Government of
India's Department of Atomic Energy, commissioned India's first
superconducting cyclotron in May 2009. In a September 16
meeting with PolOFF, VECC's Director, Dr. Rakesh K. Bhandari,
discussed past, and enthused about future, collaboration with
U.S. educational institutions, particularly in light of the
U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal. He noted the center's
continued difficulties with procurement and travel, despite the
recently concluded U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal. He
emphasized the growing strategic importance of helium, its
usefulness in predicting natural disasters and intention to
domestic source the element.
Existing Collaboration with U.S. Institutions
2. (SBU) The Variable Energy Cyclotron Center (VECC) was
established in 1977 as a premier research institute working in
the field of advanced accelerator technology development for
basic and applied research. The center is part of the
Government of India's Department of Atomic Energy. VECC built
the first large cyclotron in India, and in May 2009 commissioned
the first superconducting cyclotron in the country, both
according to plans received from Texas A&M and Michigan State
universities. Research utilizing the new superconducting
cyclotron will begin by September 2010. In addition to the two
educational institutions named, VECC also works closely with
Brookhaven Laboratory in New York and the Department of Energy's
Fermilab in Chicago.
Continued Difficulties with Procurement and Visas
3. (SBU) Bhandari noted the center's continued
difficulties with procurement and travel, despite the recently
concluded U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal. VECC prefers to
source critical components from the U.S., given the cyclotron's
U.S. design. However, according to him, U.S. suppliers continue
to face export restrictions in this area. VECC recently
purchased equipment from Ion Beam Applications in Belgium to
manufacture radio-isotopes for nuclear medicine diagnostics as
it was unable to locate a U.S. supplier. According to him, each
year a dozen VECC scientists travel to the US for conferences
and meetings, with an equal number of U.S. scientists paying
reciprocal visits. He expressed concern about the inordinate
delays with U.S. visa issuance for Indian scientists.
Domestic Sourcing of the Strategic Element Helium
4. (SBU) Bhandari predicted an increasing worldwide demand for
Helium as an important element for the application of cryogenics
technology research. VECC currently imports liquid helium from
the U.S. and Russia, however, is looking for domestic sources
either from hot springs or natural gas wells. In southern
India, VECC has partnered with a U.S.-based scientist to
separate helium from natural gas. VECC also plans to establish
a helium separation laboratory in the Bakreshwar hot springs,
about 230 kilometers northwest of Kolkata. One of the benefits
of the lab has been the observation of a positive correlation
between an increase in helium concentration and earthquakes.
For instance, before the December 2004 South Asian tsunami, the
center noted unusual increases in helium concentration.
Comment
5. (SBU) Director Bhandari was friendly, yet measured, in the
center's first interaction with post in several years. While
relaxed export and visa restrictions may not have been part of
the U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal, scientists at the VECC had
hoped that they would be accompanying measures. What struck
KOLKATA 00000308 002 OF 002
post's PolOFF, no scientist himself, was the amount of
U.S.-India collaboration, whether at the institutional or
individual level, that had already gone into VECC's work. The
center is open to further collaboration and would welcome the
opportunity to engage with scientists in the field.
PAYNE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/STC, SCA/INSB, VO/L/C, EEB/ESC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY TRGY TSPL CVIS ECON IN
SUBJECT: KOLKATA'S VARIABLE ENERGY CYCLOTRON CENTER SEEKS ACCELERATED
U.S.-INDIA SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
1. (SBU) Summary: The Variable Energy Cyclotron Center
(VECC) in Kolkata, a premier institute of the Government of
India's Department of Atomic Energy, commissioned India's first
superconducting cyclotron in May 2009. In a September 16
meeting with PolOFF, VECC's Director, Dr. Rakesh K. Bhandari,
discussed past, and enthused about future, collaboration with
U.S. educational institutions, particularly in light of the
U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal. He noted the center's
continued difficulties with procurement and travel, despite the
recently concluded U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal. He
emphasized the growing strategic importance of helium, its
usefulness in predicting natural disasters and intention to
domestic source the element.
Existing Collaboration with U.S. Institutions
2. (SBU) The Variable Energy Cyclotron Center (VECC) was
established in 1977 as a premier research institute working in
the field of advanced accelerator technology development for
basic and applied research. The center is part of the
Government of India's Department of Atomic Energy. VECC built
the first large cyclotron in India, and in May 2009 commissioned
the first superconducting cyclotron in the country, both
according to plans received from Texas A&M and Michigan State
universities. Research utilizing the new superconducting
cyclotron will begin by September 2010. In addition to the two
educational institutions named, VECC also works closely with
Brookhaven Laboratory in New York and the Department of Energy's
Fermilab in Chicago.
Continued Difficulties with Procurement and Visas
3. (SBU) Bhandari noted the center's continued
difficulties with procurement and travel, despite the recently
concluded U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal. VECC prefers to
source critical components from the U.S., given the cyclotron's
U.S. design. However, according to him, U.S. suppliers continue
to face export restrictions in this area. VECC recently
purchased equipment from Ion Beam Applications in Belgium to
manufacture radio-isotopes for nuclear medicine diagnostics as
it was unable to locate a U.S. supplier. According to him, each
year a dozen VECC scientists travel to the US for conferences
and meetings, with an equal number of U.S. scientists paying
reciprocal visits. He expressed concern about the inordinate
delays with U.S. visa issuance for Indian scientists.
Domestic Sourcing of the Strategic Element Helium
4. (SBU) Bhandari predicted an increasing worldwide demand for
Helium as an important element for the application of cryogenics
technology research. VECC currently imports liquid helium from
the U.S. and Russia, however, is looking for domestic sources
either from hot springs or natural gas wells. In southern
India, VECC has partnered with a U.S.-based scientist to
separate helium from natural gas. VECC also plans to establish
a helium separation laboratory in the Bakreshwar hot springs,
about 230 kilometers northwest of Kolkata. One of the benefits
of the lab has been the observation of a positive correlation
between an increase in helium concentration and earthquakes.
For instance, before the December 2004 South Asian tsunami, the
center noted unusual increases in helium concentration.
Comment
5. (SBU) Director Bhandari was friendly, yet measured, in the
center's first interaction with post in several years. While
relaxed export and visa restrictions may not have been part of
the U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal, scientists at the VECC had
hoped that they would be accompanying measures. What struck
KOLKATA 00000308 002 OF 002
post's PolOFF, no scientist himself, was the amount of
U.S.-India collaboration, whether at the institutional or
individual level, that had already gone into VECC's work. The
center is open to further collaboration and would welcome the
opportunity to engage with scientists in the field.
PAYNE