HARVARD UNIVERSITY

September 19, 1967

Memorandum to: Dean Franklin Ford

From: Richard Wilson, Chairman, High Energy and Nuclear Physic Committee

We wish to confirm the recommendation made to you by Professor J.C. Street in a memorandum dated January 4, 1966, that operation of cyclotron cease as of December 31,1967, and that the machine be removed from its present location as soon thereafter as practical. Weunderstand that the Office of Naval Research has the financial responsibility for this removal and the decision as to the disposition of the machine.

The Physics Department has urgent need for space for the assembly and testing of heavy experimental equipment to be used at the CEA or other accelerators such as the Brookhaven AGS. The Cyclotron Building is very suitable for this purpose; it is conveniently located and it is served by a heavy overhead crane.

There is no possibility known to us of obtaining similar space, short of constructing a new building with an attendant delay of several years.

Richard Wilson

CC:

J.C. Street

W.M. Preston

A.N. Koehler, Cyclotron Laboratory

J.G. Mahoney, Office of Naval Research (Harvard)

Office of University Affairs

Code Y

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, D. C. 20546

Dear Mr. Holmes:

Enclosed is a copy of a recent memorandum which reaffirms the decision of the Physics Department to close down the Harvard 160 Mev cyclotron at the end of this year because of our great need for additional space for testing heavy experimental equipment in this area. The need was already evident six years ago when at the request of the Biomedical Project assurance was given that nothing would be done to impede use of the cyclotron before January 1, 1967.

The cyclotron will continue at its present level of operation, an average of about 20 hours/day throughout the year, up to the very end. This gives evidence of the continued interest in research and development problems requiring medium energy protons. Except at Berkeley, there is no other group using the proton beam for medical therapy and it is sad indeed when, as recently, we commenced refusing treatment to patients, some of whom have no alternative.

Unfortunately, no one or the various diverse, interests seems great enough to carry through the proposal of Northeastern University to move the cyclotron a few miles from here to their Route 128 campus. As a regional facility, its varied usefulness to education, physic research, space-related R & D, biological research and medical therapy appeal to different agencies which cannot readily get together.

Sincerely yours,

W. M. Preston

Director, Physics Laboratories

WMP:mb

Enc.

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