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BELLA, the Berkeley Lab Laser Accelerator

BELLA artist's conceptionPROJECT DESCRIPTION

BELLA, the Berkeley Laboratory Laser Accelerator will create an experimental facility for further advancing the development of laser-driven plasma acceleration.  BELLA’s unique attribute is the ability to use laser light to accelerate an electron beam to 10 GeV (10 billion electron volts) or more in the comparatively short distance of approximately one meter. 

This technology holds great promise for dramatically reducing of the size, cost, energy usage, and environmental impact of future accelerators, particularly high-energy electron-positron colliders.  BELLA’s development could pave the way for future accelerators to be hundreds of times shorter and more compact than current technology allows while producing high-quality electron beams with the same energy levels.

The BELLA project includes:

  • Modifications to existing Building 71 to house the laser system
  • Procurement and installation of the laser system
  • Ancillary systems to support the laser and electron beam systems
  • Operation of the laser and electron beam systems for research and development

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has issued environmental documents for proposed activities.  The documents are provided below in reverse chronological order by the environmental act that they address. Additionally, we have included related documents at the bottom of the page.

Most documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.  You may download a free copy of the software from Adobe's website.

CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)

Date Issued Document Title Comment Period
(if applicable)
10/16/09 PDF iconCategorical Exemption  

 

 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)


NOTICES AND PRESS RELEASES

Date Issued Document Title Comment Period
(if applicable)
9/4/09 PDF iconDOE Approval Memo  
9/4/09 PDF icon EA Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)  
6/17/09 PDF iconDraft Environmental Assessment Press Release  
6/17/09 PDF icon Draft Environmental Assessment Notice of Availability 6/17/09
to
7/18/09

 

 

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA)

Date Issued Document Title Comment Period
(if applicable)
9/4/09 PDF iconFinal Environmental Assessment  

 


Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)

Date Issued Document Title Comment Period
(if applicable)
6/18/09 PDF iconDraft Environmental Assessment 6/17/09
to 
7/18/09

 

DOCUMENTS - REFERENCED IN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS

Date Issued Document Title Comment Period
(if applicable)
4/24/09 PDF icon Historic American Engineering Record - Referenced on p. 45 of Draft EA  
4/24/09

PDF iconHistoric American Engineering Record Photos

  
11/7/07 PDF iconCategorical Exclusion Determination for Bldg 71 Seismic Improvement and Modifications - Referenced on p. 45 of Draft EA