cyclotron

cy·clo·tron   (sī'klə-trŏn')    (click for larger image in new window) n.  A circular particle accelerator in which charged subatomic particles generated at a central source are accelerated spirally outward in a plane perpendicular to a fixed magnetic field by an alternating electric field. A cyclotron is capable of generating particle energies between a few million and several tens of millions of electron volts.

cyclotron [(seye-kluh-tron)]

The first kind of particle accelerator built.

Note: Cyclotrons are now used for special research projects.

Main Entry: cy·clo·tron
Pronunciation: 'sI-kl&-"trän
Function: noun
: an accelerator in which charged particles (as protons,deuterons, or ions) are propelled by an alternating electric field in a constant magnetic field

cyclotron   (sī'klə-trŏn')  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) A type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged subatomic particles, such as protons and electrons, in an outwardly spiraling path, greatly increasing their energies. Cyclotrons are used to bring about high-speed particle collisions in order to study subatomic structures. Compare linear accelerator. See also synchrocyclotron. See Note at particle accelerator.