What is Accelerator physics: Definition and 22 Discussions

Accelerator physics is a branch of applied physics, concerned with designing, building and operating particle accelerators. As such, it can be described as the study of motion, manipulation and observation of relativistic charged particle beams and their interaction with accelerator structures by electromagnetic fields.
It is also related to other fields:

Microwave engineering (for acceleration/deflection structures in the radio frequency range).
Optics with an emphasis on geometrical optics (beam focusing and bending) and laser physics (laser-particle interaction).
Computer technology with an emphasis on digital signal processing; e.g., for automated manipulation of the particle beam.The experiments conducted with particle accelerators are not regarded as part of accelerator physics, but belong (according to the objectives of the experiments) to, e.g., particle physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics or materials physics. The types of experiments done at a particular accelerator facility are determined by characteristics of the generated particle beam such as average energy, particle type, intensity, and dimensions.

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  1. Raffaello

    Physics Engineering Physicist interview with SLAC

    Hello. I am an accelerator physicist with a couple of years of experience. I've already had an interview session with the recruiter. Then, they sent me an email saying that I will have a technical interview with the hiring manager. I've never had physics interviews before because my research...
  2. redirmigician

    I About Direct Laser Acceleration

    How does this Lawson–Woodward theorem work. I read on the wiki that the particles cannot be accelerated by lasers. But I do see acceleration of electrons with free space. I wonder how this is done. https://rdcu.be/c0fRw http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.19.021303 In addition, I have...
  3. redirmigician

    B Plasma recovery at wakefield accelerators

    Is it possible to keep the plasma ionized almost indefinitely. No additional heating is required.
  4. Wrichik Basu

    I Understanding iris electrode and iris doublet (Accelerator physics)

    Iris electrode The potential distribution in the vicinity of the iris electrode, denoted by ##V(r,z)## is rotationally symmetric. After some derivations, the author arrives at the following two equations: $$\begin{align} E_z &= - V'_0(z)\\ E_r &= \frac{1}{2}V''_0(z)r, \end{align}$$ where...
  5. ersa17

    Physics Job prospects for accelerator physics

    For a while, I was thinking about pursuing my Master's in physics specializing in accelerator physics for the reasons that, one, it seemed quite fun because it was a mixture of physics and engineering both and I could learn a lot of cool things to do with the particle accelerator(both in...
  6. R

    Size of bremsstrahlung radiation fields generated by linear accelerators

    Hi everyone, sorry we are talking about pulsed power accelerators again. In this context, it is about the HERMES III again. According to https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a351472.pdf HERMES III, a 16 terawatt pulsed power accelerator at Sandia National Labs, which fired electron beams...
  7. R

    B Which one is more efficient in generating high energy Gamma rays?

    According to https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a351472.pdf the big pulsed power accelerator, HERMES III, generate electron beam with peak energy at 22 MeV and average electron energy at 16 MeV and the resulting photon energy which is bremsstrahlung radiation is approximately 2 MeV...
  8. R

    B Gamma rays over very large areas

    According to this link https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a351472.pdf, HERMES III at Sandia National Labs can generate very large area gamma rays by converting the electron beam into bremsstrahlung radiations after hitting the tantalum target. As we can see in the isodose contours in the...
  9. R

    Question about accelerator physics

    In accelerator physics, mapping matrix is often used to describe particle's motion.For a given one turn mapping matrix,namely M(s+L|s) ,and initial (x,x').After matrix multiplication, I find the value of (x,x') changes which means particle's position and angle changes at the same s after one...
  10. ersa17

    Computational projects in Accelerator Physics

    Hello. I am not sure if this question is relevant to be asked here but anyway please help me if possible. I have just completed my undergraduate degree in Applied Physics and I am interested to pursue my MS in accelerator physics. Since I haven't taken any course in accelerator physics, atomic...
  11. Wrichik Basu

    I Clarification of accelerator physics terminology

    I have been reading some papers on accelerator physics recently, especially those on the LHC and the upcoming FCC-hh. As a beginner, I am not supposed to know everything, but there are a few terms that I feel I have to know in order to penetrate further into this field. Unfortunately Google...
  12. M

    Physics Accelerator Physics PhD Competitivity and study in the USA

    Hello, I have just graduated from university with a decent (but not outstanding) result: 2:1, not far off of a first, with good references. I did my final year project on accelerator physics and I am currently working at the same university over the summer doing similar work on an accelerator...
  13. J

    PhD in Accelerator Physics (EE or Physics?)

    Hi folks, I have a BSEE and am interested in pursuing a PhD focused on accelerator physics. I had originally planned for an EE PhD in RF/Microwave, but after reading ZapperZ's accelerator physics thread and doing a bit of reading, I find myself drawn in this direction. I've looked at some...
  14. S

    Best background for accelerator physics

    Hello! In next year I'm going to be a freshman on Czech Technical University (well, maybe, it is not final decision). My dream was always to "make that accelerators". Now, I'm stuck. So, what is the best Bc. degree for prospective Accelerator Physicist? 1. Experimental Particle and Nuclear...
  15. S

    Accelerator physics advice

    Hello! Next year I'm going to be freshman at Czech Technical University, in degree of Experimental Nuclear and Particle physics, oriented on Accelerator Hardware and Detectors. If i look at my past, i find myself always interested in accelerators. I would like to get my Bc. degree here, in...
  16. M

    Accelerator Physics - Magnetic Quadrupoles Matrix problem

    Dear reader ( and potential helper) I appreciate the time you have taken to even just glance at this topic and for those able to shed some light in any helpful direction, your assistance is greatly appreciated... Homework Statement A thin magnetic quadrupole lens may be described by...
  17. S

    Engineering Accelerator Physics and Engineering

    What roles do engineers play in the field of accelerator physics, specifically electrical engineers. I would imagine something to do with electromagnetism or microwave engineering but I have no idea. Does anyone else know what they do in the field? Thanks.
  18. M

    Physics Who Knows Anything About the Field of Accelerator Physics?

    Hello, I know there was a thread about this article at some point but take a look at this: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/april-2010/a-field-where-jobs-go-begging It claims that Accelerator Physics is a field where jobs go begging! Regardless of whether the jobs go begging or not...
  19. jbrussell93

    Accelerator Physics: EE vs Physics

    I know there are about a million of these posts on here comparing EE and physics, but I'm interested in more specific information. I'm currently a biological engineering major who's planning on switching to EE or Physics after this semester. At this point, I'm leaning towards physics because I'm...
  20. ZapperZ

    Physics Accelerator Physics - A field where jobs go begging

    In case people missed this article, this is a field of physics that needs a lot more free advertisement and enticement to students - Accelerator Physics http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000802 This is a perfect field for someone who can't decide on whether he/she wants to be an...
  21. R

    Accelerator Physics: Questions from a Physicist

    Hello all, for a normal physicist (a bit with materials science) how easy will be accelerator physics (AP). Is AP is that difficult to work with ? Is AP is purely applying theory to beam physics ? How much programming experience needed ? Is it easy to get a job/postdoc in accelerator physics...
  22. C

    Linear accelerator physics problem

    Ive been working on this problem for a few hours and can't get the last few parts. In a linear accelerator, protons are accelerated from rest through a potential difference to a speed of approximately 3.1 X 10^6 meters per second. The resulting proton beam produces a current of 2 X 10^-6...
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