Particle physics -- Cyclotron

In summary, the frequency of a particle's motion in a magnetic field is determined by the strength of the magnetic field and not the speed or radius of the particle. This is due to the force felt by the particle in the magnetic field, which is analogous to the restoring force in simple harmonic motion. The reversing electric field is not necessary for the particle to circulate at a constant speed and frequency. Instead, it serves to increase the amplitude of the particle's motion. Alternatively, the dynamics of the particle can be analyzed by equating the centripetal force required with the radial force supplied, resulting in a period that is dependent on the mass and charge of the particle and the strength of the magnetic field.
  • #1
Davidmb19
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According to the equation F=BQ/2pieM the frequency depends on the magnetic field and not the speed or radius of the particle. Can someone please explain why?

B= Magnetic field strength Q=Charge M=Mass

I think it's because of the force felt due to magnetic field so the time it reaches the dees depends on how large the force is eventhough, there's an electric field that accelerates the particle.
 
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  • #2
It's an example of SHM. The frequency of SHM does not depend on the amplitude.
 
  • #3
So why does it depend on the magnetic field strength? Is the reason similar to I said?
 
  • #4
Davidmb19 said:
So why does it depend on the magnetic field strength? Is the reason similar to I said?
I didn't understand that part. What are 'dees' here?
 
  • #5
haruspex said:
I didn't understand that part. What are 'dees' here?
 
  • #6
Interesting video, but there is one serious error in it. Where it says va is the voltage, it means va is the frequency of the voltage.
Davidmb19 said:
I think it's because of the force felt due to magnetic field so the time it reaches the dees depends on how large the force is, even though there's an electric field that accelerates the particle.
So your question here is why does the natural frequency depend on the magnetic field strength but not on the electric field strength.
Again, by SHM analogy, the magnetic field supplies the 'restoring force', like the modulus of a spring. But you need to be careful with the analogy because the perturbation being restored is the particle's velocity, not its position.
The reversing electric field is not required to produce the SHM. Once circulating, a charged particle would tend to cycle around perpendicularly to the magnetic field at constant speed and frequency. The electric field only serves to raise the amplitude each cycle, and, as discussed, the amplitude does not change the period.
Alternatively, we can throw the analogies away as potentially misleading and just look at the dynamics. If the particle is circling with speed v at radius r then the centripetal force required is mv2/r. The radial force supplied is qBv. Equating these gives v/r = qB/m. Since the path length is 2 pi r, the period is 2 pi r/v = 2 pi m/(qB).
 
  • #7
haruspex said:
Interesting video, but there is one serious error in it. Where it says va is the voltage, it means va is the frequency of the voltage.

So your question here is why does the natural frequency depend on the magnetic field strength but not on the electric field strength.
Again, by SHM analogy, the magnetic field supplies the 'restoring force', like the modulus of a spring. But you need to be careful with the analogy because the perturbation being restored is the particle's velocity, not its position.
The reversing electric field is not required to produce the SHM. Once circulating, a charged particle would tend to cycle around perpendicularly to the magnetic field at constant speed and frequency. The electric field only serves to raise the amplitude each cycle, and, as discussed, the amplitude does not change the period.
Alternatively, we can throw the analogies away as potentially misleading and just look at the dynamics. If the particle is circling with speed v at radius r then the centripetal force required is mv2/r. The radial force supplied is qBv. Equating these gives v/r = qB/m. Since the path length is 2 pi r, the period is 2 pi r/v = 2 pi m/(qB).

Sorry for the long response. Now that I think of that way it does make sense. Thanks.
 

1. What is a cyclotron?

A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged particles, such as protons or electrons, to very high speeds using a combination of electric and magnetic fields.

2. How does a cyclotron work?

A cyclotron works by using a combination of electric and magnetic fields to accelerate charged particles in a circular path. The particles are injected into the center of the cyclotron and then are accelerated by alternating electric fields as they pass through the gaps between two hollow, D-shaped electrodes. The particles continue to accelerate until they reach the desired speed and are then extracted from the cyclotron for use in experiments or other applications.

3. What are the applications of a cyclotron?

Cyclotrons have a wide range of applications in various fields such as nuclear physics, medical imaging and cancer treatment, and materials research. They are used to produce particles for experiments, create radioactive isotopes for medical imaging, and to bombard materials with high-energy particles for research purposes.

4. What is the difference between a cyclotron and a synchrotron?

Both cyclotrons and synchrotrons are types of particle accelerators, but they operate in different ways. A cyclotron uses a fixed magnetic field and alternating electric fields to accelerate particles in a circular path, while a synchrotron uses a constantly changing magnetic field to keep the particles on a circular path as they accelerate. Cyclotrons are better suited for producing particles of a specific energy, while synchrotrons can produce a wider range of energies.

5. What are the benefits of using a cyclotron for medical applications?

Cyclotrons are used in medical applications such as cancer treatment and medical imaging because they can produce particles with very specific energies, making them ideal for targeting and treating tumors with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. They also have the ability to produce a variety of radioactive isotopes for medical imaging, allowing for more precise and accurate diagnoses.

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