Cyclotron (Particle Physics)
A circular particle accelerator using a perpendicular magnetic field to bend charged particles into spiral paths while high-frequency AC electric fields accelerate them.
Governing formula
f_c = (q B) / (2π m), KE_max = (q² B² R²) / (2 m)
SI unit
MeV (Beam Energy)
In depth
Invented by Ernest Lawrence in 1930. The constant orbital frequency f_c enables RF electric fields across the 'Dees' gap to accelerate protons and deuterons to high kinetic energies for nuclear reaction experiments.
Examples in the real world
Medical cyclotrons accelerating protons to produce short-lived radioisotopes (like Fluorine-18) for PET brain scans.