Literally tons of magnets are free for the taking by groups at SLAC, Stanford and other DOE facilities.

The magnets ran SSRL’s storage ring until it was dismantled in April to make way for SPEAR3, which will use more powerful magnets to create brighter x-rays with higher photon flux. About 300 tons of magnets, sitting on seven-ton concrete girders, were either rolled out of the SPEAR tunnel or lifted out by crane in the few places where the roof was removed.

SPEAR uses magnets to bend the path of electrons so they can travel in the circular beam line, and to bend or wiggle the beam at certain points to create the synchrotron x-rays used to investigate myriad materials. The original SPEAR2 equipment, which also includes vacuum chambers and ion pumps, is still in good working condition. The parts are currently stored along the Klystron Gallery.

About 300 tons of magnets and other SPEAR2 equipment are stored along the Klystron Gallery. (Photo by Diana Rogers)

"This is material that may be useful at other sites," said Roz Pennacchi (DO). SLAC hopes to find a project that can use the materials while they are in good condition, she said.

Currently in suspension storage, these items can’t be recycled or reused outside of SLAC or other DOE facilities because they have been in a radiological area. "While a few items are radioactive, most are not and none are dangerous," said Jim Allan of Operational Health Physics (OHP).

In January 2000, DOE began a suspension on recycling metals from radiological areas (i.e., accelerator housings, radiation areas, high radiation areas, radioactive materials areas)–even if they are not radioactive. This suspension will last for at least another year until uniform release standards are approved.

OHP tests items for radioactivity before they are turned in to Salvage. Equipment exposed to beams where the energy is greater than 10 MeV (million electron volts) can potentially become radioactive, Allan explained. The measurable levels of radioactivity are very low and pose no danger. "The DOE threshold to determine if material is radioactive is ‘anything detectable above background (radiation levels) with our most sensitive instrument,’" said Allan.