Status Report of the Inter-Laboratory Task Force on Remote Operation

In February 2000, the International Committee for Future Accelerators initiated a study of a new model for international collaboration on a future large accelerator project, the Global Accelerator Network. The study is based on a model of a facility, which is remote from most of the collaborating institutions. It is designed, built and operated by a collaboration of equal partner institutions distributed around the world. According to this model, the expert-staff from each laboratory remains based at their home institution but continues to participate in the operation of the machine after construction. This report summarizes the conclusions of the Task Force on Remote Operation, which investigated the general and technical implications of far-remote operations.