LBNL Image Library -- Collection BERKELEY-LAB/ACCELERATORS/HILAC-SUPERHILAC

Hilac

Image File

97502158

Title

Hilac

Description

Experiments at the heavy-ion linear accelerator (Hilac) began in September on a part-time basis. Construction is continuing, but it will soon be completed and a definite experimental and maintenance schedule established. Tjorborn Sikkeland, Al Ghiorso, and Robert Main at the Hilac.The idea for a heavy ion machine was originated by Dr. Glen T. Seaborg and Albert Ghiorso, who conferred with Drs. E. O. Lawrence and Luis W. Alvarez. They discussed building a machine to accelerate a “pure” beam of heavy ions (originally, nuclei of atoms up to argon-40, element 18). In part, the machine was designed jointly by UCRL (UC Radiation Lab, now LBNL) and Yale University. Mechanical engineer in charge was Hayden Gordon. Heavy ions had previously been accelerated at the 60-inch cyclotron, but could not be freed of low-energy contamination. In the Hilac, heavy ions are accelerated without interference. Experimenters at the Hilac seek to synthesize new elements and isotopes of known elements. Another experiment is “scattering” studies: in these the behavior of the struck particles gives clues to nuclear make-up. The Hilac was later modified into the SuperHILAC, and eventually became the basis for the Bevalac, which combined the SuperHILAC and the Bevatron. The SuperHilac was finally shut down on December 23, 1992.

Citation Caption

Magnet, Vol. 1, No. 2, December 1957, p. 6

Date

1957

Division

Nuclear Chemistry

People

Al Ghiorso, Sikkeland, Main

TEID Doc ID

XBD9705-02158.TIF