High-intensity proton beams at CERN and the SPL study

The construction and operation of LHC is, and will remain, the first priority of CERN for many years. However, the proton injectors still deserve attention because of the beams they provide to users other than the LHC, and because of the need to prepare for future upgrades of the LHC luminosity. This is why a study has recently been performed to evaluate the benefits, for the various user communities, of the possible improvements to the accelerator complex. The outcome of this study is focused on the short and medium term (before 2010). In the longer term, choices depend on the physics experiments that will be included inside the CERN programme. In any case the flexibility and the broad range of applications of a Superconducting Proton Linac (SPL) already make it an attractive device whose development is worth pursuing. This analysis and the resulting recommendations are summarized in this paper.