When Jacquie and I were in San Francisco we had the awesome opportunity to visit and get a tour of SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre). Jacquie's Uncle Ewan was the former director and conducted the tour. The centre had its 50th anniversary this year and is still important for the study of science.
SLAC's mission is to explore frontier questions of science. The facility is used to uncover scientific mysteries from the workings of subatomic particles to the structure of matter
In 1962, construction began on what was the longest and straightest structure in the world. The linear particle accelerator is 3 KM in length. It would accelerate electrons to the speed of light for groundbreaking experiments in creating, identifying and studying subatomic particles. Scientists working at the linear accelerator have been presented with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1976 and 1995. The linear accelerator has been instrumental in the study of genetic's, biology, space technology, chemistry and other scientific disciplines.
Ewan explained to us how the linear accelerator is calibrated on a regular basis by a laser to ensure it remains straight and true.
Further we toured the control room where the entire length of the accelerator is monitored and controlled and where many of the experiments are conducted.
Jacquie and I were awed by the information that was provided to us by Uncle Ewan and his contribution to the world of physics. Ewan has been formally retired for over 10 years from the university however he has the distinction of being professor in emeritus with an office and remains on an international committee to design and build a new linear accelerator. The committee is looking at Japan as a possible location. The new accelerator will be 30 KM long and 300 Metres deep.
Thanks Ewan for an amazing tour and thank you for your continued contribution as a renowned particle physicist. :-) :-)
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