Rutherford Laboratory accelerates into the neutron game

The Rutherford Laboratory's proposal for a high intensity, low energy proton synchrotron whose principal use would be to make intense neutron beams, is discussed. The proposed spallation neutron source (SNS) with a beam of 200 microamps of protons at 1 GeV would enable users to do experiments more rapidly, or in more detail, or to do experiments which are at present impossible because they require the scattering of too many neutrons. The design and the economics of the accelerator, which would use many of the existing facilities at the Laboratory, are discussed. The proposal is still informal but working parties are at the moment studying the scientific case for SNS and it is hoped to produce a formal proposal by the end of 1976. (U.K.)