Microtron
Encyclopedia
A microtron is a cyclotron
in which the kinetic energy of electron
s is increased by a constant amount per field change (one half or a whole revolution). They are designed to operate at constant field frequency
and magnetic field
strength despite notable relativistic
effects at higher energies. Thus, power consumption can be much reduced.
In a microtron due to their different relativistic mass the electrons in different passes of the acceleration fly on different paths through the bending magnet dees. The time needed for that is proportional to the pass number. The slow electrons need one electric field oscillation, the faster electrons an integer multiple of this oscillation.
A racetrack microtron does not have the electric field of the classic cyclotron between its dee
s. Instead, there is a linear accelerator near the edge of the gap between the dees. The remainder of the gap is used for focussing devices. The electron is readmitted to the linear accelerator after each revolution. This procedure can be repeated until the increasing radius
of the particle's path makes further acceleration impossible. The particle beam is then deflected into an experiment area or a further accelerator stage.
The world's largest racetrack-microtron is the Mainz Microtron
.
Cyclotron
In technology, a cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator. In physics, the cyclotron frequency or gyrofrequency is the frequency of a charged particle moving perpendicularly to the direction of a uniform magnetic field, i.e. a magnetic field of constant magnitude and direction...
in which the kinetic energy of electron
Electron
The electron is a subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge. It has no known components or substructure; in other words, it is generally thought to be an elementary particle. An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton...
s is increased by a constant amount per field change (one half or a whole revolution). They are designed to operate at constant field frequency
Frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency...
and magnetic field
Magnetic field
A magnetic field is a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials. The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude ; as such it is a vector field.Technically, a magnetic field is a pseudo vector;...
strength despite notable relativistic
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
effects at higher energies. Thus, power consumption can be much reduced.
In a microtron due to their different relativistic mass the electrons in different passes of the acceleration fly on different paths through the bending magnet dees. The time needed for that is proportional to the pass number. The slow electrons need one electric field oscillation, the faster electrons an integer multiple of this oscillation.
Racetrack microtron
In the racetrack-microtron by tailoring the field in the dee all electron-packets can be made to enter and exit at the same position so that they can be fed conveniently through a compact linac.A racetrack microtron does not have the electric field of the classic cyclotron between its dee
Cyclotron
In technology, a cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator. In physics, the cyclotron frequency or gyrofrequency is the frequency of a charged particle moving perpendicularly to the direction of a uniform magnetic field, i.e. a magnetic field of constant magnitude and direction...
s. Instead, there is a linear accelerator near the edge of the gap between the dees. The remainder of the gap is used for focussing devices. The electron is readmitted to the linear accelerator after each revolution. This procedure can be repeated until the increasing radius
Radius
In classical geometry, a radius of a circle or sphere is any line segment from its center to its perimeter. By extension, the radius of a circle or sphere is the length of any such segment, which is half the diameter. If the object does not have an obvious center, the term may refer to its...
of the particle's path makes further acceleration impossible. The particle beam is then deflected into an experiment area or a further accelerator stage.
The world's largest racetrack-microtron is the Mainz Microtron
Mainz Microtron
The Mainz Microtron , abbreviated MAMI, is an electron accelerator of the microtron type, in which electrons are accelerated to relativistic velocities. It is operated by the Institute for Nuclear Physics of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. Its purpose is the generation of polarized...
.