linear accelerator









linear accelerator


linear accelerator Word Origin See more synonyms for linear accelerator on Thesaurus.com noun Physics.

  1. an accelerator in which particles are propelled in straight paths by the use of alternating electric voltages that are timed in such a way that the particles receive increasing increments of energy.

Origin of linear accelerator First recorded in 1930–35 Also called linac. Related Words for linear accelerator accelerator, cyclotron, synchrotron British Dictionary definitions for linear accelerator linear accelerator noun

  1. an accelerator in which charged particles are accelerated along a linear path by potential differences applied to a number of electrodes along their pathSometimes shortened to: linac

linear accelerator in Medicine linear accelerator n.

  1. An electron, a proton, or a heavy-ion accelerator in which the paths of the particles accelerated are essentially straight lines rather than circles or spirals.
  2. A device that produces high energy photons (x-rays) on charged particles for use in radiation therapy.

linear accelerator in Science linear accelerator

  1. A type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged subatomic particles, such as protons and electrons, in a straight line by means of alternating negative and positive impulses from electric fields. Linear accelerators were largely supplanted by cyclotrons and other architectures that require less path length to achieve the same or higher particle velocities. See Note at particle accelerator.
47 queries 0.429