II.18 — Life-cycle and operability of particle accelerators

Abstract

Particle accelerators are used to generate particle beams for different kinds of use. Operability must be easy and simple for an industrial version with a high Technological Readiness Level (TRL), or complex and critical for large single accelerators designed for new research objectives. Our present text mainly focuses on this second type of specific machines and facilities. Beyond associated physics and technologies considerations, they are systems and facilities to be designed, constructed, and used for the expected purposes. The particle accelerators devoted to research have generally a long life (> 20 years) and history shows that their lifecycles are unique, and generally neither smooth nor easy.  Many good practices in project management and operation of particles accelerators can be found in the existing fields of building construction, or complex industrial systems (aeronautic, military) or other large scientific instruments (e.g. satellite). But they have their particularities: the specificities of the expected output (the particle beam, a complex multi-parametric physical object), the technologies (ion sources, RF, vacuum, etc.), the specific risks (direct or remnant radiations, electricity, etc.), the high expectation for performances or innovation, the usual associated international community. In the first section, we will describe the different classic stages of the lifecycle of a particle accelerator, in the second section we will focus on the operations stage with details on the reliability. In the third section, we will evoke some of the current trends: artificial intelligence, sustainability, and major cost of energy.