Accelerators at Harwell
Name
Building
Output
Lifetime
Comments
110-inch Synchrocyclotron
H7
170 MeV
1949-1970s
In 1949 "the most powerful atom-splitting machine in the country"
Electron linac
H8
3 MeV
1949-1952
Based on work carried out at TRE Malvern. Used for nuclear data neutron cross-sections and time of flight
Cockcroft-Walton
H8
500 kV
1950s-1970
Built in the early days as a neutron generator
Electron linac
H8
15 MeV
1952-1959
Used for nuclear data neutron cross-sections and time of flight
Proton Linear Accelerator (PLA)
B412/R12
50 MeV
1954-1964
Transferred to RHEL in 1959. Two thirds of PLA now incorporated in ISIS injector
Van de Graaff
H8
5 MV
1950s-1980s
Rebuilt early 1980s. Latterly used for "The Nuclear Microprobe"
Electron linac
B418
50 MeV
1959-1975
Incorporated a factor 10 neutron booster target. Used for neutron cross-sections, time of flight and some photonuclear, some condensed matter
Tandem Van de Graaff
B477
2-60 MeV
1960s-1980s
Many applications; very flexible; beams H - Zr (could accelerate beams of many different ions from Hydrogen to Zirconium)
Variable Energy Cyclotron (VEC)
B540
80q2/m MeV (max)
1965-1980s
Designed at RHEL. Protons at 50 MeV (max)
Electron linac
B418
136 MeV (max)
1979-1986
Four target areas: 5-30 MeV beam line (mostly for photo-fission), neutron booster target, fast neutron target, condensed matter physics target. Used for neutron cross-sections, photonuclear, condensed matter studies
Electron linac
B418
5-20 MeV
1990s-2004
Two sections (#1 and #2) of the 8-section 136 MeV electron linac. Used mostly for commercial applications
Electron linac
B418
10 MeV
1994-2004
One section (re-built no.3) of the 8-section 136 MeV electron linac. Basis of commercial medical sterilisation plant
With thanks to David Findlay.