The University of Texas at Austin's Discovery to Impact has committed $250,000 to TAU Systems through the UT Seed Fund. This funding aims to support the commercialization of a compact laser-driven particle accelerator, which could lead to advancements in various sectors including environmental solutions, manufacturing, and healthcare. TAU Systems is the Fund’s eighth investment, reflecting its emphasis on novel university-driven initiatives spanning computer, physical, and life sciences.
Led by UT Austin physics professor Björn Manuel Hegelich, TAU Systems plans to utilize the investment to develop TAU Labs in Carlsbad, California. This facility will serve as a research and development hub, along with a radiation testing area, offering industrial clients access to advanced particle and imaging technology.
Mark Arnold, assistant vice president for Discovery to Impact and managing director of Texas Startups, expressed enthusiasm about the venture. “TAU Systems aligns with our investment strategy to get discoveries out of the lab and into the world to have lasting impact. What began as a prototype at UT Austin, TAU Systems’ particle accelerators will enable the next wave of scientific discoveries with a wide variety of applications,” Arnold stated. “We are excited to continue to support their journey to transform industries.”
The technology behind laser-driven particle accelerators provides high-energy outputs necessary for studying subatomic particles. Before the advent of TAU Systems’ technology, access to these accelerators was limited due to their large size and scarcity. TAU Systems has innovated by reducing the scale of these accelerators from miles to meters, establishing more feasible and economic alternatives.
These compact accelerators have numerous potential applications, including simulating space radiation effects, enhancing semiconductor chip design, reducing nuclear waste, and developing medical treatments like cancer therapies.
Hegelich, serving as CEO of TAU Systems, expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “TAU Systems is appreciative of this investment from Discovery to Impact during this next phase of development at TAU Labs. It ensures we’re the first commercial laser beamtime facility in the world to open and the first with physical tried-and-tested technology.” He further added, “We are convinced that by democratizing access to such exciting machines and advanced technology, we can make a transformative impact across almost every industry and the economy.”
For additional details on TAU Systems, visit their website at tausystems.com. More information about Discovery to Impact can be found at discoveries.utexas.edu.