|
|
Article: How Do Accelerators Work?(machine that is used to produce high energy, charged particles)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- November 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
An accelerator is a machine that is used to produce high speed, high energy, or "accelerated" charged particles. Charged particles include electrons (negative electric charge), protons (positive), and heavy ions (usually positive). Relying on the properties of electricity and magnetism (in the accelerator) to boost their energy, charged particles can reach speeds close to that of light. Once they are "accelerated," these high energy particles can collide with targets and produce nuclear reactions. It is this approach that is used in synthesizing, or creating, the human-made transuranic elements.
You Watch an Accelerator!
Particle accelerators can be ...