Accelerators Research (AR), 1961 - 1966

In 1956 on the recommendation of the Director-General, C. J. Bakker, the Scientific Policy Committee endorsed the proposal to set up the Accelerators Research group, which was approved by the Council at its sixth session.

In 1957 the Accelerators Research group was created, as part of the Proton Synchrotron (PS) division to undertake research
on the design of future colliders. In November 1959 the PS started with operation.

In 1960 several members of other groups of PS division joined the PS-AR group. Its mandate was enlarged to include more general studies of as accelerators and related instrumentation technologies.

In 1961 the AR Group became the AR division. Some specific studies were started for possible future CERN accelerators as 

Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR) approved in 1965
Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) approved in 1971

On January 1967 the AR division was transferred to the ISR Construction Department.

Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR), 1966 - 1982

In 1963 a Working Party of ECFA (European Committee for Future Accelerators) recommended the construction of both
the ISR and the 300 GeV Proton Synchrotron (SPS).

An electron model was built at CERN to verify some of the basic features of the idea of ISR. This model called CESAR came into operation in 1963. 

In December 1965 the CERN Council approved the ISR project and the continuation of the 300 GeV project study (SPS).

In 1966 the ISR division was created and Kjell Johnsen appointed as Division leader.

In 1971 the ISR machine came into operation with the PS as injector.

In 1982 the CERN Council approved the proposal to dissolve the ISR division. The next year most ISR staff moved to the new Large Electron Positron Collider Division (LEP).

In 1984 the ISR were closed down to liberate financial and manpower resources for the construction of the LEP.