Computational Accelerator Physics Grand Challenge: Accelerator Testbeds for HPC Design Tools

Next-Generation Spallation Neutron Sources

Currently there are two types of neutron sources for neutron scattering research: fission reactor sources and pulsed accelerator-based spallation sources. Due to the difficulty of bringing new reactors online in many countries (consider, for example, the recent cancellation of the Advanced Neutron Source), the United States and the European Community are now designing the next generation of spallation sources to serve the needs of the neutron scattering community. In particular, the United States is designing a short pulse spallation source (SPSS) that will be built at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the European Community is designing the European Spallation Source (ESS). Pulsed spallation sources, like that at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), are extremely important tools for materials science and biological science research. They have led to developments in advanced composite materials, polymers, new-generation catalysts, magnetic materials, and biomolecular structure determination.

Next Linear Collider (NLC) for High Energy Physics

While the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), to be built at CERN, offers an entry into the TeV center-of-mass energy regime to explore new particle physics phenomena, a TeV scale electron-positron collider, the Next Linear Collider (NLC), will provide a complementary program of experiments with unique opportunities for both discovery and precision measurements. At present, there is great international interest in the NLC as prototype facilities in the United States (SLAC), Japan (KEK), and Europe (DESY and CERN) are coming close to completion. These test accelerators will soon be able to answer questions of an optimal design choice and the estimated cost of such a collider. There is consensus among high energy physicists that both the LHC and the NLC will be required to understand the nature of physics at the TeV scale, and to see how new phenomena fit together with known particles and interactions into a grander picture.

Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS)

A leading candidate in the development of 4th Generation Angstrom-wavelength sources is the Linac-driven Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Based on analytical and computer studies of this device, peak powers of more than 100 GW are expected to become available over broadly tunable wavelength ranges, opening up a wide range of important scientific and technological applications in research areas ranging from the fundamental properties of materials to biological imaging. At present, projects for developing LCLS facilities have been initiated at SLAC, BNL, and DESY, with projected completion dates ranging from 1998 to 2001. More recently, due to the high levels of interest stimulated by scientific workshops held at SLAC, DESY, and the ESRF, other synchrotron radiation facilities (e.g., the APS at Argonne National Laboratory and KEK in Japan) have initiated exploratory LCLS programs.

Back to Background Information.

Back to main page.