Nuclear physics at Ohio University was started in 1962 with the hiring of Professor Roger Finlay. The initial research program utilized a small 150-kV Cockroft-Walton accelerator for generating neutrons that was located in an old automobile garage. The Department of Physics, however, had more ambitious plans. Construction of the Ohio University Accelerator Laboratory (OUAL) began in 1965 and was completed in 1967, with funds supplied by the State of Ohio. In addition, Clippinger Laboratories, which houses the rest of the Department of Physics and several other science departments, was completed nearby on campus in 1967. Additional faculty hires in the area of nuclear physics also took place during this time period.

The purchase of the 4.5-MV tandem accelerator was funded by a one million dollar grant awarded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to Ohio University in 1967. The principal investigator was Professor Ray Lane, who had been recently hired. The accelerator was manufactured by the High Voltage Engineering Corporation located in Burlington, Massachusetts. The machine was designed to deliver high currents and consists of a unique "T" configuration, with the charging system running vertically and the beam horizontally. The accelerator itself took 18 months to manufacture and over 10 months to install, with the first experiments starting in 1971. Interestingly, the only other accelerator of this design was also installed in "Athens" -- at the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos" in Athens, Greece -- and it too is still in operation!

The initial research program was focused on nuclear structure, with a particular emphasis on experimental techniques involving neutrons. Funding was largely provided by the Atomic Energy Commission (now known as the Department of Energy) and the National Science Foundation. Scientists in the laboratory have always opportunistically sought out new research areas, particularly when the unique capabilities of the accelerator could be leveraged.

The laboratory was eventually named the John E. Edwards Accelerator Laboratory, in honor of John E. Edwards, who was a stalwart professor in the Department of Physics from 1932 until 1972, served as Department Chair, and was a recipient of Ohio University′s Distinguished Professor Award. The lab is still also referred to by many via the original acronym OUAL.

Starting in 1978, the laboratory began to direct some efforts towards the investigation of new methods for cancer treatment, in collaboration with the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. The idea behind this research was that radiotherapy with neutron beams may be superior to conventional x-ray and Cobalt therapy in the treatment of certain types of cancer. More recent projects in medical physics have involved collaborations with researchers from Ohio State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to provide fundamental data for boron neutron capture therapy.

In 1980, the first architectural change in the building was made since its construction in 1967. A 30-meter-long time-of-flight tunnel was constructed underground in the vacant land just east of the building, utilizing funds from the Ohio University 1804 fund, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. A rotating beam-swinger magnet supplied by Michigan State University was also installed. The combination of beam swinger and tunnel allows neutrons to be studied as a function of angle with very well-shielded detectors. The long flight path provides for excellent neutron energy resolution.

In 1987, an interdisciplinary program in Condensed Matter and Surface Science was started at Ohio University. This program led to a faculty hire with research specialization in accelerator-based materials studies and the establishment of additional research capabilities in the accelerator laboratory. The W.M. Keck Thin Film Analysis Facility integrates several techniques within a suite of coupled UHV chambers to provide analysis and preparation facilities for research on surfaces and thin films. Accelerator-based probes include Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy, Nuclear Reaction Analysis, Elastic Recoil Spectroscopy, Proton-Induced X-Ray Emission, and Ion Channeling.

The Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (INPP) was established at Ohio University in 1991 to promote experimental and theoretical research in nuclear physics at the University. In 1994, the Edwards Accelerator building was expanded with the addition of a conference room, an undergraduate laboratory, an electronics shop, and office space. This addition was financed by roughly equal contributions from Ohio University and funds generated by overhead return through the INPP. The Department was renamed the Department of Physics and Astronomy at about this time, to reflect our growing teaching and research interests in astronomy and astrophysics.

One of the strengths of the laboratory has always been the design and construction of specialized experimental equipment, including hardware, electrics, and computers. These developments are possible because of our on-campus location, excellent technical staff, and other departmental resources such as our machine shop. The laboratory provides an excellent environment for both undergraduate and graduate students to learn all facets of experimental physics, including design, fabrication, data taking, and analysis. The laboratory infrastructure has also supported the development of equipment for several experiments that have been performed at other laboratories.

Over time, the laboratory has increasingly hosted users from outside universities and laboratories. These users are often drawn here because of our capabilities and expertise in the generation and production of neutrons. One particular example is the development of neutron radiography, which has been led by scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The Edwards Accelerator Laboratory has sustained a very high level of productivity over the years, with many Ohio University faculty performing a significant fraction of their research here. As of July 2012, Ohio University has produced 76 Ph.D.s in experimental nuclear science, of which 58 involved experimental work performed at at Ohio University. A list of Ph.D. students, their advisors, and thesis topics is given at the end of this page. Four Ohio University faculty who have worked in the laboratory, Roger Finlay, Steve Grimes, Raymond Lane, and Jacobo Rapaport, have received Ohio University′s Distinguished Professor Award. This award is the highest permanent recognition attainable by faculty at Ohio University.

The research focus of the laboratory has continued to evolve over time. Nuclear structure, and in particular statistical properties of nuclei, remains an important research focus. A relative new research area for the lab is nuclear astrophysics, which is concerned with providing an understanding of how nuclear physics impacts astrophysics (e.g., the origin of the elements and energy generation in stars). Applications of nuclear physics are becoming increasingly important. Example applications include high-precision fission measurements (needed to design the next generation of nuclear reactors) and the remote sensing of fissile materials using neutrons and gamma rays (motivated by the desire to prevent the unauthorized transport and or/use of uranium and plutonium).

In 2004 the University recognized the interface between nuclear physics and astrophysics as one of its "Research Priorities", awarding $1.3 million to the "Structure of the Universe" initiative. This initiative has led to increased ties between the nuclear physics and astrophysics groups and enhanced their research programs, including a faculty hire in low-energy experimental nuclear physics and $100,000 for refurbishment of the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory.

With the assistance of a $321,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, the accelerator was upgraded to a Pelletron charging system provided by the National Electrostatics Corporation. This upgrade replaced the aging charging belt system and was completed in January 2012. The new system has demonstrated considerably improved terminal stability, has allowed operation at higher terminal voltages, and is expected to reduce required maintenance time and expense.

In January 2020, commissioning was completed on a new Alphatross helium ion source obtained from National Electrostatics Corporation using $187,000 from a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation grant. This upgrade replaced the duoplasmatron ion source that had been operation since the accelerator lab's beginning. The new source delivers higher beam intensities, shorter start-up time, and more stable operation.

Here are some photographs from over the years: