Content & Structure [Top]

Scope and content

With a diameter of 200 metres and reaching a final energy of 28 GeV, the Proton Synchrotron (PS) was for a while the most powerful accelerator in the world.

Today the PS complex can accelerate all stable and electrically charged particles (electrons, protons), their antiparticles (positrons, antiprotons), and different kinds of heavy ions (oxygen, sulfur, or even lead).

The first stage of acceleration happens in a linear accelerator (Linac), and each type of particle has its own. This is because of their very different masses.

Then all particle beams pass through the PS machine itself. Each acceleration cycle takes 2.4 seconds, and the PS control systems are so versatile that different particle beams can be dealt with on each successive cycle. The beams are then injected into the bigger rings for further acceleration (SPS, LEP or - in future - LHC). Proton beams from the PS complex are also used for physics experiments (ISOLDE, East Hall) or for the production of antiprotons (Antiproton Decelerator).

This collection includes reports, minutes, notes, specifications and memoranda classified by alphabetical order of groups and by year .

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Nothing was destroyed.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

The original order has been preserved. For purposes of cataloguing the files have been described according to the plan bellow :

• Internal reports were classified by group until 1976, then by year.
• Notes are classified by group with a additional information at the end of the reference number to indicate minutes (Min.), technical notes (Tech.), specifications (Spec.) or informations (Info.).