Department of Accelerator Science provides education in theoretical and experimental aspects of particle accelerators.

Historically, particle accelerators were developed for research into atomic nuclei and elementary particles. Particle accelerators have since become a key technology of many areas of modern research with applications in the fields of medicine, cancer therapy and medical diagnosis, as well as in basic sciences such as life science and materials science.

The High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) is a laboratory for multidisciplinary accelerator science. Using the most advanced particle accelerators, advanced research is conducted on the development of high energy accelerators together with basic research into elementary particle physics, synchrotron radiation science and neutron physics.

Two experiments which have drawn worldwide attention, the Belle CP-violation experiment at the B-Factory and the K2K neutrino oscillation experiment at the Proton Synchrotron, started in 1999. The construction of a very high intensity proton accelerator (J-PARC) in Tokai, as a joint project of KEK and JAERI, began in 2002. In addition, a vigorous program of research and development is being advanced towards the realization of the Linear Collider project, which will form a foundation for the next stage of particle physics in this country.

For the realization of new cutting-edge accelerators, new challenges must be met in accelerator theory and in basic fields such as microwave and vacuum technologies, computer science, radiation science, and others. Furthermore, there are many challenging topics in accelerator research, such as the application of superconductivity to the magnet and the accelerating microwave cavity.

Accelerator science is based on the engineering technology of a variety of fields, rendering cooperation between industry and academia very important. The Department of Accelerator Science provides training of advanced-level professionals, as well as training of research successors in the field of accelerator science.