What is a cyclotron?
Q: What is a cyclotron?
A: A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged particles by whirling them in a circle.
Q: Who invented the cyclotron?
A: Ernest Lawrence, from the University of California, Berkeley, invented the cyclotron in 1930.
Q: How does a cyclotron work?
A: Cyclotrons use perpendicular magnetic field to bend electrons and particles through into a semicircular path by an applied electric field. The applied electric field accelerates electrons between the "D" electrodes(also called "dees") of the magnetic field region. The accelerating electric field reverses just at the time the electrons finish their half circle, so that it accelerates them across the gap. With a higher speed, they move in a larger semicircle. After repeating this process several times, they come out the exit port at a high speed.
Q: What is the size of early cyclotrons?
A: The early cyclotrons were the size of a hand.
Q: How big are modern circular accelerators?
A: Some modern circular accelerators use a circle as wide as a city.
Q: What kind of field is used in cyclotrons?
A: Cyclotrons use a perpendicular magnetic field to bend electrons and particles through into a semicircular path by an applied electric field.
Q: How are electrons accelerated in a cyclotron?
A: Electrons are accelerated between the "D" electrodes(also called "dees") of the magnetic field region by an applied electric field.
