Prototype of Superconducting Quadrupole for ISR Low-Beta Insertion

In colliders, smaller beam cross-section means higher luminosity. Beam-size being proportional to the square-root of the "beta function" value, a small beta means small beam size, hence high luminosity. The first p-p collision in the ISR occurred in January 1971 and in 1973 a study was launched on low-beta insertions, which focus beams to even smaller sizes at the beam crossing points. In 1976 the first prototype of a superconducting quadrupole was tested. Here we see Theodor Tortschanoff with a prototype of 1.25 m magnetic length. Manufacture of 8 quadrupoles (4 of L=1.15 m, 4 of L=0.65 m) began at Alsthom in 1978. They were installed at point 8 of the ISR, enhancing luminosity there until final low-beta operation in December 1983. For details see "Yellow Report" CERN 76-16.