voltage multiplier

A voltage multiplier is a type of particle accelerator that uses a series of capacitors and rectifiers to generate high voltages. These voltages are used to propel particles, such as protons, to high speeds. The circuit effectively combines multiple direct-voltage power supplies in series, allowing for voltages significantly higher than what a single transformer could provide.

This technology was pioneered by Cockcroft and Walton in their experiments, which led to the first artificially induced nuclear reaction. While high voltages can be challenging to manage due to issues like corona discharge, voltage multipliers remain a key component in many particle accelerators, enabling energies up to several million electronvolts.12