The Proton Synchrotron
The PS was constructed in 1959, and for a while it held the world record for highest energy particle accelerator. After many modifications over the years, what remains from 1959 are most of the main magnet units. Today the machine serves various experiments, as well as being part of the LHC injector chain.
See the public page for more information about the machine.
Make a tour of the machine in google street view
PS in the layout database
Center of the ring in google street view
Straight sections overview:
Schematic view
By sector
PS Injectors
The injector chain for protons is Linac4, via the PSB, and into the PS.
For ions, Linac3 produce them, accumulated in the LEIR, and injected into the PS.
Public page for Linac 4
Internal page for the PSB
Internal page for the LEIR
PS Users
AD - Antiproton Decelerator
The AD takes a high intensity 26 GeV/c beam from the PS, which hits a target and creates antiprotons at 3.5 GeV/c, which are then decelerated for various experiments.
East area
The east area is an experimental area associated with the PS, taking beam through a slow extraction from the F61 transfer line. It is then directed through T8 for Irrad or Charm experiments, or through T9, T10 or T11 for various East area North experiments.
See East area for more information.
n_TOF - Neutron Time-Of-Flight
The n_TOF facility, uses a beam from the PS to create a pulse of neutrons, at different kinetic energies. The energy is determined based on the time of flight of the neutrons, hence the name. The n_TOF facility is host to a range of different experiments.
SPS - Super Proton Synchrotron
The Super Proton Synchrotron accelerates beams from the PS machine, and delivers them at up to 450 GeV/c for LHC, or to other experiments.