After long silence of more than fifty years, FFAG (fixed field alternating gradient) accelerator has come to life again. This short note gives various features of this type of accelerator, which could bring out the most modernized and interesting phases in the field of accelerator science.

We are now developing a novel internal target system, which is to be used in an electron storage ring. This is named SCRIT (Self-Confining Radioactive Ion Target). This technology can localize specific ions on the electron beam axis using so-called “ion-trapping” phenomenon and form a fixed target of unstable nuclei. This will realize electron-scattering experiments for short-lived nuclei that have never been succeeded in. The R&D study of the SCRIT is now under way at the KSR in Kyoto University. We confirmed that ¹³³Cs ions, which were injected from outside, were trapped in the SCRIT. The SCRIT technology will open a new application of electron rings.

In order to get helpful support from mechanical engineering field, it is important for accelerator scientists to show clearly a road map with technical milestones about their program and a revised map when any alterations are made. It is also meaningful to upgrade technical specifications and engineering drawings according to progress of research and to establish a technical network.

The cooling system for 300 MeV linac at LNS, Tohoku University has been continued for about 40 years to supply the intense electron beam for a lot of experiments. However the water leakage due to corrosion occurred frequently at welding parts and aluminum gaskets for the pipe joint. Accordingly the degradation of the performance of the system is serious. In this report I describe about the typical malfunction examples and evaluation of many items to be measured for re-construction of the cooling system that I have experienced for 30 years.

Former NAIG Nuclear Research Laboratory established in 1961 and merged to Toshiba in 1989 had been equipped with two Van de Graaff type accelerators, one for electron beam irradiation and the other for ion acceleration. Features of these accelerators and the notable results of utilizing them are described briefly.

We have been developing compact SR source since mid 1980’s. The first AURORA, which is the superconducting SR ring, was transferred to Ritsumeikan University in 1996. The following machine AURORA—2 has the normal-conducting high field (2.7 T) magnets for the bending magnets. There exists two versions; the one is AURORA—2D, a version having quadrupole Doublets and the other AURORA—2S, a version having quadrupole Singlets. HiSOR at Hiroshima University is the A2D-type and was built in 1997. One A2S exists in our Tanashi works and is supplying SR-photons to the users over 2000 hours a year.

We report a present status of NTT synchrotron radiation facility. The facility consists of two electron storage rings (Super-ALIS, NAR) and a 15—MeV linac. Since 1989, the rings have been stably operated and have been mainly used for development of micro-fabrication technology. We also report here some topics in commissioning of the rings.

SESAME is an international research institute in the Middle-East, located at the north-west suburb of Amman in Jordan. The main facility of SESAME is a 2.5 GeV synchrotron light source now under construction. SESAME has been established under the auspices of UNESCO to promote sciences and to create peace in this region. Nine countries participate in SESAME as members: Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Palestinian Authority, Israel, and Egypt. This paper describes the history, machine, and sciences of SESAME. It also mentions Japanese contribution to and role in SESAME.