Report of the Ad Hoc Panel on heavy ion facilities

Abstract

In response to a request from the USAEC, the President of the National Academy of Sciences appointed an Ad Hoc Panel under the NAS-NRC Committee on Nuclear Science to make an intensive study of various aspects of the science and technology involved in heavy ion research in light of the needs of the national program in this field. In particular, the panel was asked to formulate and evaluate various options for the development of heavy ion facilities that would include an appropriate accelerator complex capable of producing heavy ion beams and the ancillary apparatus required for experimental exploitation. Also, the Panel was asked to evaluate the current status and potentialities of the Super HILAC and Bevalac accelerators of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Berkeley. Results of the study are presented. Topics include heavy ions in nuclear physics and chemistry, atomic physics, heavy ions and astro and space physics, materials science and solid state, and biomedicine. The state of the technology related to the choice of a heavy ion accelerator system is reviewed, and the various possible choices are reviewed including the large tandem accelerator, tandem- cyclotron systems, and linear accelerators. The upgrading of existing facilities (Super HILAC, Bevalac, and PPA) is discussed. Cost estimates for various heavy ion facilities are briefly discussed. (WHK)