Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 05/11/1998 All articles from this issue

SLAC's Panofsky addresses LAH history buffs

printer friendly version

By Mary Cristy

Special to the Town Crier

Quintessential science intersected with quintessential history at

Los Altos Hills Town Hall May 10 when Martin Bernstein, president of the Los Altos Hills Historical Society, presented speaker-of-the-day, professor Wolfgang Panofsky, director emeritus of Stanford's Linear Accelerator at the society's meeting.

Smiling broadly as he viewed the packed house, past-president Dan Alexander remarked, "This is the biggest turnout we've ever had."

Talk of protons, electrons, and quarks filled the air as the famed physicist projected charts and photos documenting the inception and evolution of Stanford's Linear Accelerator.

"High energy physics is a rat race," Panofsky said.

"Project M (SLAC's original machine) was designed in a little building." The modest start ultimately led to what Panofsky called, "the shortest government report in history. It stated, 'We have accelerated electrons!' "

By April l956, discussion was under way for a new and larger machine, "Project M, for Monster." The Eisenhower administration offered little encouragement for the project, but Congressional blessings came later with "$78 million l960 dollars."

Serious opposition to the development came from Woodside fox hunters who feared its environmental impact.

Nevertheless, "the machine was built in four years, around oak trees," Panofsky said.

For 700 acres, Stanford's lease specified $1 a year. It also stipulated that Stanford, not the government, would determine policy, and that "the lab should be available to scientists throughout the United States," Panofsky said.

Growth went hand-in-hand with problem-solving. After "building around the oaks," it was became necessary to build around the proposed Interstate 280 freeway.

Panofsky grinned impishly. "Since it was due to go in, we built an overpass - a place where automobiles and electrons

.intersect."

A fossil find during construction caused more excitement as arrangements were made for its eventual reassembling and exhibition. Clearly, the endeavor was "not a static enterprise."

"Three Nobel prizes were awarded at SLAC. Then we started to become useful," Panofsky quipped.

Another major controversy arose with Woodside's objection to SLAC's proposed power lines.

Suffice to say, approval was forthcoming.

"To date 400 or 500 physicists from all over the world are using our facilities," and SLAC has been a model for European installations.

With the quiet confidence born of participation in a venture that has succeeded beyond all expectations, Panofsky addressed the question of SLAC's future.

"The answer to 'how long will it continue?' is the same today as it was 45 years ago," he said.

With an open lab for scientists, with an open invitation to the community to participate in tours where "they can see what we are doing. We are not making bombs ..." Panofsky indicated that SLAC continues to seek and find answers to questions that have not yet been posed. It's a voyage of discovery, ongoing, and exciting, because often a scientist does not know what will unfold until it stands revealed.