Alternating Gradient Synchrotron
Since 1960, the Alternating Gradient
Synchrotron (AGS) has been one of the world's premiere particle
accelerators, well known for the three Nobel
Prizes won as a result of research performed there.
The AGS name is derived from the concept of
alternating gradient
focusing, in which the field gradients of the accelerator's 240 magnets
are successively alternated inward and outward, permitting particles to
be propelled and focused in both the horizontal and vertical plane at the same time. Capable of accelerating 25 trillion protons with every pulse, and
heavy ions such as gold and iron, the AGS is used by 850 users from 180
institutions from around the world annually.
The AGS receives
protons from Brookhaven's 200 million electron-volt (MeV)
linear accelerator (LINAC).
The AGS Booster, constructed in 1991, further augmented the capabilities of
the AGS, enabling it to accelerate protons and heavy ions to much higher
energies than before. Even now, the applications for the AGS continue to
be expanded with the construction of the
NASA Space
Radiation Laboratory. Among its other duties, the AGS is now used as an injector for the
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.
 See a
schematic of the AGS complex.
Go to the
Collider-Accelerator
Department.
Last Modified: January 31, 2008
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