Superconductivity and accelerators: the good companions

This year marks the 30/sup th/ anniversary of the Brookhaven Summer Study on Superconducting Accelerators and Devices, at which many of the basic ideas for exploiting superconducting magnets in high energy particle accelerators were given their first widespread hearing. During the intervening 30 years, superconductivity has made possible the construction of the world's largest accelerators. The authors trace the evolution of superconducting accelerator magnet technology, with particular emphasis on conductor development. Several existing accelerators, both large and small, are described, together with immediate plans and longer term prospects for the future.