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Location DB > United States > California > Berkeley > Bevalac Synchrotron
 Name
Bevalac Synchrotron
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by CrazyMinerBob on 7/4/2004 4:10 AM
last modified by Emperor Wang on 7/8/2022 10:15 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
A large round building houses the Bevalac storage ring, an igloo-like structure made of large shielding blocks. An adjacent high bay (the External Proton Beam Hall) at one time housed the various targets and detectors where the particle beam "ended". A nearby building (now used by Life Sciences) at one time housed a 50 MeV proton injector (which was used when protons were required, rather than heavy ions from the SuperHILAC).
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Difficult
Recommendation: drop everything - must see
 Physical Information
Address
Cyclotron Rd.
Berkeley, California
United States
Owner: U.S. Department of Energy
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • asbestos
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • air quality
  • radiation, lead
  •  Interesting Features
    The Bevalac is a synchrotron located "on the hill" above the University of California Berkeley campus. It is part of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy lab.

    A synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator. This particular one was built in 1954 at a cost of $9 million, and is 180 ft. in diameter. It was initially "fed" by a 10MeV LINAC (MeV = "million electron volt", LINAC = "linear accelerator"). This was subseqently replaced by a 19MeV LINAC (shut down, but still in place), a 50MeV LINAC (parts can still be found behind locked doors), and the SuperHILAC (still there). This site is living history, especially for those with an interest in high-energy physics. It was used in research that resulted in four Nobel prizes, and many discoveries in physics and medicine (including the discovery of antimatter).
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • barbed wire
  • razor wire
  • 24 hour guard
  • locked gates
  • Located at an active DOE lab. Access is gated and controlled.
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1954
    Closed: 1993
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  • gloves
  • head protection
  • long pants / sleeves
  • LBNL creds, radiation safety training, entry authorization
  •  Recommended Equipment
    camera, tripod
     History
    The Bevalac started life as the Bevatron in 1954 (the "Bev" in "Bevatron" standing for "billion electron volts" - BeV). At the time, it was the world's largest particle accelerator, capable of accelerating a beam of protons and charging the particles to 6.2 BeV.

    In 1974, at the age of 20, the Bevatron was at the end of its useful life for research. It was "saved" when a proposal to convert it to a heavy ion accelerator was acted on - this would allow it to accelerate all elements on the periodic table to relativistic energies. The SuperHILAC linear accelerator located 550 ft. up the hill above the Bevatron was linked, replacing the Bevatron's own linear accelerator. This linkage renamed the Bevatron to the Bevalac. The first beams were produced on August 1, 1974.
    The Bevalac ceased operations when the beam was turned off for the last time on February 21, 1993.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    The Bevalac occupies some prime real estate at the crowded Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It is slowly and carefully being demolished.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Bevalac exterior shots

    posted by CrazyMinerBob
    18 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Bevalac interior

    posted by CrazyMinerBob
    41 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    External Proton Beam Hall is gone
    Tue, Sep 14th, 2004
    posted by CrazyMinerBob
    11 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    BNCT ESQ Injector
    Wed, Sep 22nd, 2004
    posted by CrazyMinerBob
    16 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    19 MeV LINAC
    Wed, Oct 13th, 2004
    posted by CrazyMinerBob
    30 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Tunnelbug's Trek
    Sun, Feb 11th, 2007
    posted by tunnelbug
    12 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Injector control room
    Mon, Jun 4th, 2007
    posted by CrazyMinerBob
    16 pictures
     


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    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    http://www.lbl.gov...ac-nine-lives.html
    http://www.lbl.gov...alac-shutdown.html
    http://imglib.lbl....con_size=icon_size
    http://imglib.lbl....con_size=icon_size
    http://terraserver...=11317&Y=83849&W=3
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 7 / 10
    Coolness 9 / 10
    Content Quality 9 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 7/8/2022 10:15 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jul 8 22 at 22:15, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Jul 8 22 at 22:15, Emperor Wang changed the following: Display Name, History, Interesting Features
  • on Jul 8 22 at 0:06, Ruins-the-Moment changed the following: Status
  • on Mar 26 09 at 5:06, Steed validated this location
  • on Mar 26 09 at 3:15, CrazyMinerBob changed the following: Hazards, Security Measures, Required Equipment
  • on Aug 1 07 at 1:42, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Jun 4 07 at 15:37, CrazyMinerBob updated gallery Injector control room
  • on Jun 4 07 at 15:36, CrazyMinerBob updated gallery picture Back rack (left)
  • on Jun 4 07 at 15:35, CrazyMinerBob updated gallery picture Main panel
  • on Jun 4 07 at 15:34, CrazyMinerBob updated gallery picture Third door
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
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     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.Current statusinsainly sound814054/23/2010 11:27 PM by tunnelbug
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