China Launches Trial Operations of Massive Heavy-Ion Accelerator in Guangdong
The 2.6 billion yuan HIAF facility will simulate cosmic explosions and advance cancer therapy research.
China has commenced trial operations of the High-Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. Developed by the Institute of Modern Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the facility produces some of the world's most intense heavy-ion beams to advance research in nuclear physics, medicine, and space technology.
The project represents a total investment of approximately 2.6 billion yuan (about $385 million). Spanning 32.4 hectares, the facility features a two-kilometre beamline installed 13 metres underground. Its technical architecture combines a superconducting linear accelerator with a fast-cycling synchrotron and storage-ring systems, allowing the facility to accelerate ions ranging from hydrogen to uranium. The facility passed its technological acceptance review on July 21, 2025, following a construction period that began in December 2018.
Strategic Nuclear Research
The HIAF is a cornerstone of China's strategy to expand its capabilities in nuclear science. It complements the Low Energy High-Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (LEAF) in Gansu; while LEAF focuses on low-energy beams to study the evolution of cosmic elements, HIAF is engineered for higher intensities. This allows researchers to simulate the extreme conditions of the early universe and stellar explosions. The facility exists alongside other global initiatives, such as Russia's NICA collider in Dubna, as nations compete to explore nuclear matter under extreme pressure and temperature.
Industry and Medical Implications
The ability to recreate high-temperature and high-pressure cosmic environments allows scientists to study the structure of atomic nuclei and the synthesis of heavy elements during supernovas. Beyond theoretical physics, the facility has immediate practical applications. In the aerospace sector, the intense beams are used to test the radiation resistance of spacecraft electronics, ensuring durability in deep-space environments. In the medical field, the facility supports the development of heavy-ion cancer therapies and the production of rare medical radioisotopes used in diagnostics and treatment.
Future Milestones
As the facility moves from trial operations to full-scale research, scientists are already reporting early successes. During the commissioning phase, researchers observed the rare hafnium-153 isotope, signaling the facility's precision and power. Future operations will focus on expanding the range of isotopes studied and refining the beam intensity to further the understanding of nuclear matter. Observers will be watching for the first peer-reviewed publications resulting from the facility's full operational capacity.