What are particle accelerators used for?

The two main uses of particle accelerators are:

• scientific research covering a wide range of disciplines, including fundamental particle and nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, materials science, and structural biology;

• industrial and medical applications, including cancer treatment.

New applications for accelerators, including efficient generation of clean energy, are continually being explored.

There are many different kinds of accelerator, including linacs, cyclotrons, and synchrotrons.  For any given application, the type of accelerator used and its exact structure will depend on a number of different features, including:

• the kinds of particle being accelerated (which may be, for example, electrons or protons, or relatively "heavy" ions);

• the energy that the particles are intended to reach;

• the required intensity of the beam, and its "time structure" (i.e. how the intensity varies with time);

• the required size and stability of the beam.

Although the first particle accelerators were developed a hundred years ago, new variations are still being invented, in response to new and more demanding applications.  We are also continually finding better, easier and cheaper ways to build and operate accelerators.