The SLC is the first ever linear collider and is shown schematically
below.
Linear colliders are unique in that electrons
and positrons must be accumulated, accelerated and
brought into collision on each machine cycle. While
this environment offers a set of challenges very different
from that of storage rings, it also offers unique
opportunities in both electroweak and heavy flavor physics.
The SLC parameters are given in below.
These numbers, along with an uptime of 65-75%, allowed SLC to deliver over 50,000 Z0s to SLD with high polarization in 1993.
The following sections describe the main features of the SLC, with particular attention given to the creation and transport of a polarized electron beam.