synchrotron
[ sing-kruh-tron ]
/ ˈsɪŋ krəˌtrɒn /
noun Physics.
a type of cyclotron consisting of magnetic sections alternately spaced with sections in which particles are electrostatically accelerated.
Words nearby synchrotron
British Dictionary definitions for synchrotron
synchrotron
/ (ˈsɪŋkrəˌtrɒn) /
noun
a type of particle accelerator similar to a betatron but having an electric field of fixed frequency with electrons but not with protons as well as a changing magnetic field. It is capable of producing very high energies in the GeV range
Word Origin for synchrotron
C20: from
synchro- + (
elec)
tron
Scientific definitions for synchrotron
synchrotron
[ sĭng′krə-trŏn′ ]
A type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged subatomic particles (generally protons) in a circular path. Unlike cyclotrons and synchrocyclotrons, in which particles follow a spiral path, synchrotrons consist of a single ring-shaped tube through which the particles loop numerous times, guided by precisely synchronized magnetic fields and accelerated at various points in the loop by electric field bursts. Synchrotrons are currently the most powerful particle accelerators, and the study of high-energy collisions driven by synchrotrons has lead to the discovery of many subatomic particles. See also cyclotron synchrocyclotron. See Note at particle accelerator.