Cyclotron
A particle accelerator in which charged particles orbit spirally in a constant magnetic field while high-frequency AC electric fields accelerate them twice per turn.
Governing formula
f_c = (q B) / (2π m), KE_max = (q² B² R²) / (2 m)
SI unit
Hz (Frequency), J or MeV (Kinetic Energy)
In depth
The cyclotron resonance frequency f_c is independent of orbital radius and velocity in non-relativistic limits, allowing fixed-frequency RF acceleration.
Examples in the real world
Medical cyclotrons accelerating protons to produce short-lived PET radioisotopes like Fluorine-18 for hospital cancer scans.