Initial Operation of the MSU Superconducting Cyclotron

On August 31, 1982, the first beam was extracted from the Michigan State University superconducting K500 cyclotron. Shortly thereafter, the first experiment was performed with a 35 MeV/n carbon beam. The known operating characteristics of the K500 cyclotron are reported. Some of the technological innovations of the machine are described. Progress on the next phase of the project, the K800, is discussed.