Super Proton Synchrotron
Test beamline delivered from the SPS. In photo 20 GeV positrons are used to calibrate the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. | |
| General properties | |
|---|---|
| Accelerator type | Synchrotron |
| Beam type | protons, heavy ions |
| Target type | Injector for LHC, fixed target |
| Beam properties | |
| Maximum energy | 450 GeV |
| Physical properties | |
| Circumference | 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) |
| Coordinates | 46°14′06″N 6°02′33″E / 46.23500°N 6.04250°E |
| Institution | CERN |
| Dates of operation | 1976–present |
| Preceded by | SppS |
| Current particle and nuclear facilities | |
|---|---|
| LHC | Accelerates protons and heavy ions |
| LEIR | Accelerates ions |
| SPS | Accelerates protons and ions |
| PSB | Accelerates protons |
| PS | Accelerates protons or ions |
| Linac 3 | Injects heavy ions into LEIR |
| Linac4 | Accelerates ions |
| AD | Decelerates antiprotons |
| ELENA | Decelerates antiprotons |
| ISOLDE | Produces radioactive ion beams |
| MEDICIS | Produces isotopes for medical purposes |
The Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) is a particle accelerator of the synchrotron type at CERN. It is housed in a circular tunnel, 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) in circumference, straddling the border of France and Switzerland near Geneva, Switzerland.