Linjarikiihdyttimiä

Linjarikiihdyttimiä, known in English as linear accelerators or linacs, are a type of particle accelerator. Unlike circular accelerators, which use magnetic fields to bend particles into a circular path, linacs accelerate particles in a straight line. This is achieved by a series of electric fields that are pulsed in synchrony with the particles' passage. As particles travel down the accelerator, they repeatedly pass through these oscillating electric fields, gaining energy with each pass.

The basic principle involves a long vacuum tube containing a sequence of electrodes or cavities. An alternating electric voltage is applied across these elements. Particles are injected at one end and propelled forward. The electric fields are timed so that the particles always encounter a field that accelerates them. This allows for significant energy gains as the particles traverse the length of the linac.

Linacs are used in a variety of applications. In scientific research, they are crucial for accelerating electrons and protons to high energies for experiments in particle physics and nuclear physics. In medicine, linear accelerators are widely employed in radiation therapy to treat cancer. The high-energy beams produced by medical linacs can be precisely directed to destroy cancerous cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. They are also utilized in industry for applications such as non-destructive testing and material modification. The length of a linac can range from a few meters to several kilometers, depending on the desired particle energy.