Uses of a prototype NLC/GLC

The assumption is made that before the next linear collider is approved, a working prototype or demonstration model will be necessary. Also, that an NLC will have to be planned sufficiently well to provide all of the important, foreseeable physics over some energy range that can be extended well into the TeV region. This synoptic view implies a general purpose linear collider that provides e±e±, γe± and γγ incident channels that can produce a full range of Jq…qPC states, leptoquarks Jℓ…qPC, supersymmetric particles, top or Higgs. This GLC is discussed together with a phased development leading up to such a machine. It is argued that new physics is available over a range of energies from a few GeV upwards of 60 GeV or so by using the SLC and other facilities at SLAC for comparatively little cost. Also, because current ideas about the NLC can be upgraded at very little incremental cost this seems the most realistic way to achieve an NLC. It also provides some unique practical developments such as high rep-rate and high peak-power FELs into the UV range and beyond. The achievable physics includes most of the major HEP being discussed today such as new hadrons, quark molecules, glueballs and studies of the SM and MSSM. Some consideration is also given to whether this physics is achievable elsewhere e.g. at existing ring colliders. With increasing energy, strong field effects become increasingly important in all incident channels. We discuss these and how they arise in order to certify the extension of these channels to TeV energies. The nonperturbative, multiphoton Compton and Breit-Wheeler processes are also discussed for producing polarized γ and e± beams as well as beam-beam backgrounds. One advantage of strong fields is the possibility of ‘target-free’ production of highly polarized, high brightness γ and e± beams. Finally, problems associated with producing and colliding independent, micron-size beams in the strong field regime are discussed.