The SLC program

This paper discusses the SLC program. The SLC proposal was conceived as a prototype of a new class of particle accelerators, specifically the linear colliders. The desires for higher energy e/sup +/ e/sup -/ collisions were based on the highly successful e/sup +/ e/sup -/ physics programs at existing machines and the promise of exciting physics experiments at higher energies. Scaling of storage ring parameters to reach higher energies led to designs of very large machines and estimates of very costly projects. The SLAC Linear Collider proposal was an economical step to achieve the next increment in energy that seemed appropriate, namely that needed to reach the Z/sup 0/. To achieve economically the desired luminosity, comparable to that possible in a scaled-up storage ring, the small beam size and short duty cycle capabilities of a linac were exploited. Modifications of the existing SLAC linac were required