History overview

In the early 70s, physicists who were studying the nucleus found that they were more and more restricted in terms of the energies they could use. As a consequence, theoretical concepts which might have been erroneous could not be validated experimentally. This community of scientists then decided, with the support of the major research organizations, to draft a report proposing the creation of a heavy ion accelerator, to improve our knowledge of the atomic nucleus.

French physicists then knew that France's rank was at stake among the countries involved in fundamental research in nuclear physics. As a result, the two organizations in charge of this research, CEA and l’IN2P3, launched a major national accelerator project: the GANIL.
 

GANIL in 1977

GANIL today

In August 1975, it was decided to build this laboratory in Caen. The Basse-Normandie region supported the project by way of a substantial financial contribution.


The first beam was delivered in November 1982, and the first experiment took place in January 1983. In the following years, the laboratory continuously developed and acquired a worldwide reputation among nuclear physicists.
In 1993 it was recognized as a Major European Facility for research, and in 2001 it became, with SPIRAL, the world leader in secondary beam acceleration.

GANIL is still developing today after the signature, in 2006, of the SPIRAL2 agreement. The construction of the buildings should begin in 2010. This new facility places Basse-Normandie in a strong position as host for the large European project: EURISOL.




Excerpt of a report, GANIL, MATIERE A HISTOIRE (A MATTER OF HISTORY) (1972-2001)

Master's Thesis by M. Yann JACOB