Abstract :
The PS Booster Synchrotron (PSB) being a complex accelerator with four superposed rings and substantial additional equipment for beam splitting and recombination), doubts were expressed at the time of project authorization as to its likely operational reliability. For 1975 and 1976, the average down time was 3.2% (at least one ring off) or 1.5% (all four rings off). The items analysed are: operational record, design features, maintenance, spare parts policy, operating temperature, effects of thunderstorms, fault diagnostics, role of operations staff and action by experts.
