Superconductivity and accelerators: the good companions

This year marks the 30(th) anniversary of the Brookhaven Summer Study on Su perconducting Accelerators and Devices, at which many of the basic ideas fo r exploiting superconducting magnets in high energy particle accelerators w ere given their first widespread hearing. During the intervening 30 years, superconductivity has made possible the construction of the world's largest accelerators, We trace the evolution of superconducting accelerator magnet technology, with particular emphasis on conductor development, Several exi sting accelerators, both large and small, are described, together with imme diate plans and longer term prospects for the future.