The Cyclotron

A cyclotron is a particle accelerator. It consists of two hollow D-shaped electrodes (called ‘dees’) that are attached to an alternating p.d. supply. The dees are placed in vacuum chamber and a magnetic field which acts at right angles to them.

A particle will move in a circle because of the magnetic field.

When it reaches the gap between the dees the alternating supply has made the other dee have the opposite charge to the particle. This causes the particle to accelerate across the gap and enter the second dee. This continues to happen until the particle is moving at the required speed. At this point it leaves the cyclotron.