Shepherded into existence by an editorial committee of four SLAC staff members led by Richard B. Neal, the massive 1169-page, more-than-ninety-author treatise thoroughly documents all facets of the two-mile-long linear accelerator, or linac, operated by Stanford University.
The blue clothbound book was conceived upon the realization that the staff working long and hard on the project would inevitably disperse upon the linac’s completion. As a means of preservation, the volume was created to provide a systematic presentation of the knowledge and experience gained in the linac’s design and construction.
The editorial committee divided the material into 27 chapters covering all aspects of the site, including buildings and utilities, as well as the components and systems of the accelerator and the beam switchyard. The SLAC linac is the longest linear accelerator in the world, and aspects of its design continue to be of interest not only to SLAC staff, but also to a wide range of accelerator designers, users, and builders.
The page reproduced here is from an author’s proof of the book, currently being held in the collections of the SLAC Archives and History Office. Since the excerpt is from a true “blue-line” proof, this particular copy is blue both inside and out.
