Present status of nuclear and particle physics accelerator facilities: basic principles and limitations

A review of the most recent accelerators in construction or near realisation is presented with an emphasis on heavy ion beam facilities for which a spectacular interest appeared during these last years. In this framework the Strasbourg VIVITRON electrostatic accelerator project is first discussed, followed by the recent cyclotrons operating at room temperature (such as GANIL) or cryogenic (MSU, Chalk River, Milan-Catane, AGOR, ...). The synchrotron facilities and electron accelerators are also analysed as well as the important problems of plasma ion sources and beam intensities