A Tribute to the SuperHilac-The greatest Atom Smasher of all Time
Top: SuperHilac 30KV Rectifier Bank
Middle: SuperHilac Rectifier Capacitor Bank
Bottom: SuperHilac Main Control Room
The SuperHilac (Super Heavy Ion Linear Accelerator) was located at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This world class facility was the only linear accelerator in the world that could accelerate all the elements of the periodic table including uranium. At the SuperHilac it was possible accelerate up to three different elements-of the periodic table- at the same time by using three different independently operating injection systems. This former research facility has a legacy of physics and nuclear chemistry history. Over 34 years of operation the SuperHilac generated experimental data and was directly responsible for hundreds of scientific papers and played a critical role in finding elements 102 and 103 of the periodic table. I was fortunate to have been a part of that legacy, maintaining the accelerator electronics and computer control system for this facility for eleven years.
Sadly, this facility was closed down in December of 1992 due to the poor judgment of the Department of Energy who ignored the fact that there was still great support in the physics and nuclear science community. I was the electronic technician to do the final shutdown; and that was truly a sad day for those who worked in this facility. Five years after the SuperHilac closure the DOE admitted that they had made a big mistake in closing the facility down.