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Which particles are commonly accelerated in particle accelerators?
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particle accelerator
The accelerator is a large-diameter tube within which an electric field oscillates at a high radio frequency. Within the accelerator tube are smaller diameter metallic drift tubes, which are carefully sized and spaced to shield the protons from decelerating oscillations of the electric field. In the spaces between the drift tubes, the electric field is oriented properly to accelerate the protons in their direction of travel.
The particles most commonly accelerated in particle accelerators are electrons and protons.1
- Electrons: These are typically generated using an electron gun, where a heated cathode releases electrons that are then accelerated through an electric field toward an anode.1
- Protons: These are sourced from hydrogen gas. In large accelerators, protons are often initially produced as negative hydrogen ions—hydrogen atoms with an extra electron—which are easier to manage before being stripped of their electrons to become protons for final acceleration.1
- Heavy Ions: Specialized accelerators are also capable of producing high-energy beams of heavy ions, which are particles with one or more units of electric charge and a mass greater than that of a helium-4 nucleus. These are frequently used in fundamental research, such as the production of synthetic transuranium elements.23