Cyclotron - definition

A Cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator, which is used to accelerate charged elementary particles such as protons, deuterons or ions to high kinetic energies for use in scientific research, medical applications and industrial technologies. The principle of the cyclotron is based on the movement of particles in a magnetic field that forces them to move in spiral tracks, and the application of an alternating electric field that accelerates them at appropriate points in their cycle.

The design of the cyclotron is based on two semi-circular electrodes, called 'dees' (because of their D-like shape), placed in a strong homogeneous magnetic field. Particles injected into the device accelerate in the space between the electrodes under the influence of an oscillating high-frequency voltage, and are then directed back into the next orbit. As a result of this process, their trajectory takes the form of an ever-increasing spiral until they reach the desired energy level, at which point they are guided out of the cyclotron for use in further experiments or procedures.

Thanks to their ability to achieve significant energies at relatively compact sizes, cyclotrons have found applications in nuclear medicine for the production of radioisotopes, in cancer therapy using proton therapy, and in the study of the structure of matter, among others. Their development marked an important stage in the history of particle physics and accelerator technology, although in the highest energy range they were replaced by more advanced devices such as synchrotrons.

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