Final Report of the PS Radiation Working Group

Final Report of the PS Radiation Working Group The Proton Synchrotron, inaugurated in 1959, plays a central role in CERN’s accelerator complex as an injector to higher-energy synchrotrons (SPS, LHC). In CERN’s new strategy for particle accelerators, the PS shall provide protons for the LHC and the fixed target program for 25 more years, until about 2035. Technical consolidation of the PS and the PS Booster seem to be a cost-effective measure to deliver protons to LHC in this period. The consolidation must also include aspects of safety and environmental protection. While a renovated PS will not be able to match the safety performance of a newly built accelerator, it must be at least assured that all safety and environmental risks are within the perimeter of present laws and regulations. If possible, safety performance shall exceed these minimal standards by a large margin. The PS Radiation Working Group (“the working group”) has been investigating those hazards of continued operation of the PS pertaining to radiation protection and it proposes specific action in the cases where regulations are not respected. The working group has analyzed the sources of beam loss and possible ways to reduce it, the effects of the secondary radiation emerging beam loss points, such as stray radiation, activation of air and fluids, activation of accelerator components and finally, exposure of personnel to radiation from activation.