What is a linear accelerator used for?

A linear accelerator is used to accelerate charged particles to high energies for use in various applications.

Linear accelerators, also known as linacs, are used in a variety of fields such as medical, industrial, and scientific research. In medicine, linacs are used for radiation therapy to treat cancer patients. The high-energy particles produced by the linac are directed towards the cancerous cells to destroy them while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. In industrial applications, linacs are used for material inspection and modification, such as sterilizing medical equipment or modifying the properties of polymers. In scientific research, linacs are used to study the properties of matter and to create new materials.

The basic design of a linac consists of a series of accelerating structures that use radiofrequency (RF) fields to accelerate charged particles, such as electrons or protons. The particles are injected into the linac and travel through the accelerating structures, gaining energy with each stage. The final energy of the particles can range from a few million electron volts (MeV) to several billion electron volts (GeV), depending on the application.

Linacs can be designed to produce a continuous beam of particles or a pulsed beam, depending on the requirements of the application. They can also be used in combination with other technologies, such as magnets, to steer and focus the particle beam.

In summary, linear accelerators are versatile tools used to accelerate charged particles to high energies for a variety of applications, including cancer treatment, material modification, and scientific research.