CERN Hadron Linacs

CERN Complex
Current particle and nuclear facilities
LHCAccelerates protons and heavy ions
LEIRAccelerates ions
SPSAccelerates protons and ions
PSBAccelerates protons
PSAccelerates protons or ions
Linac 3Injects heavy ions into LEIR
Linac4Accelerates ions
ADDecelerates antiprotons
ELENADecelerates antiprotons
ISOLDEProduces radioactive ion beams
MEDICISProduces isotopes for medical purposes
Internal view of the first CERN Linac

The CERN Hadron Linacs are linear accelerators that accelerate beams of hadrons from a standstill to be used by the larger circular accelerators at the facility.

  • The first CERN Linac, operating from 1958 until 1992
    The first CERN Linac, operating from 1958 until 1992
  • Linac 2, operating from 1978 to 2018, was used to accelerate protons
    Linac 2, operating from 1978 to 2018, was used to accelerate protons
  • Linac 3, currently (as of 2020) used to accelerate ions
    Linac 3, currently (as of 2020) used to accelerate ions
  • Linac4, replacing Linac 2 in 2020, accelerates negative hydrogen ions
    Linac4, replacing Linac 2 in 2020, accelerates negative hydrogen ions