Cyclotron: Accelerating Particles to High Speeds
by Yuvi K - December 18, 2023
About Cyclotron: Exploring High-Speed Particle Acceleration
In 1934, two physicists, Ernest O. Lawrence and M. Stanley Livingston, developed the first device capable of accelerating particles to high speeds: the cyclotron. This piece of equipment is now an essential tool of research facilities around the world, guiding physicists in better understanding the subatomic realm and its many mysteries. Let’s take a closer look at exactly how the cyclotron works and why it’s such a powerful tool.
What Is a Cyclotron?
Put simply, the cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator―a machine that uses magnets to increase the speed of particles. In a typical cyclotron, two semicircles of magnets lie flat, arranged in a “D” shape. Particles, such as protons or electrons, are inserted at the center of the cyclotron and then accelerated by the machine’s electric field. As the particles move, they interact with the two magnets, switching direction each time they cross the device’s “axle.”
After they’ve changed direction again and again, the particles emerge with energies up to thousands or even tens of thousands of electron volts (eV). This acceleration allows the particles to be further studied and studied in greater detail.
What Are Cyclotrons Used For?
Nowadays, cyclotrons are used in many applications, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, and nuclear physics research. They’re also used to create and study isotopes―particles with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Some applications for these isotopes include nuclear energy, and research into medical and industrial processes.
The Development of Cyclotrons
In the 1930s, the cyclotron was invented by American physicists Ernest O. Lawrence and M. Stanley Livingston. Lawrence and Livingston began developing their version of the cyclotron as a tool for studying nuclear processes.
At the University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence and Livingston produced the first reliable cyclotron in the summer of 1931. Soon after, they made another one that had a more powerful magnetic field, allowing it to accelerate particles to higher energies. Thanks to Lawrence’s and Livingston’s hard work, the size and power of cyclotrons rapidly increased over the following decade, and versions with energies of hundreds of millions of electron volts were created.
The Significance of Cyclotrons
The development of cyclotrons was a major milestone in our understanding of the subatomic world. By accelerating particles to high speeds, researchers are able to explore and study matter and particles in greater detail than ever before.
Modern-day cyclotrons have enabled researchers to probe even deeper into the atomic realm, hastening breakthroughs in the fields of particle physics, nuclear science, and radiation therapy. Without the aid of the cyclotron, many of the achievements in these fields simply wouldn’t have been possible.
Conclusion
The cyclotron has been essential in aiding human understanding of the microscopic world that makes up our universe. For over 80 years, cyclotrons have been assisting researchers with collecting data and making experiments in the field of particle physics. Not only that, but the cyclotron’s influence can be seen in fields such as medical imaging and radiation therapy. Thanks to the invention of the cyclotron, our understanding of the initial states of matter has deepened, helping us make great advances in physics research.
