Accelerator and Beams - Tools for Discovery and Innovation

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The discussion focuses on the misconceptions surrounding particle accelerators, emphasizing that they are not solely associated with high-energy physics or colliders. The American Physical Society's brochure aims to clarify the diverse applications of particle accelerators beyond this narrow view. Participants also engage in a technical conversation regarding synchrotron radiation, questioning how it relates to kinetic energy and magnetic forces. Key points include the understanding that synchrotron radiation results from the deflection of charged particles and that it does not imply a change in mass but rather a loss of kinetic energy. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of accurate knowledge about particle accelerators and their functions in various scientific fields.
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The Division of Physics of Beams of the American Physical Society (APS) has produced this wonderful brochure titled "http://www.aps.org/units/dpb/upload/brochure.pdf" ". It essentially describe what a particle accelerator is, and more importantly, what it is used for.

The main purpose here is to eliminate the wrong myth that "particle accelerator" automatically means "particle collider" in high energy physics. Nothing could be further than the truth, and hopefully, someone reading this brochure will get the idea that the MAJORITY of the application for a particle accelerator has NOTHING to do with high energy physics.

A supplement for this brochure is a useful article written a while back by Michael Turner titled "http://scitation.aip.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_56/iss_9/10_1.shtml" ", that essentially tried to convey the same message.

Zz.
 
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Here is a free downloadable book on the "Principles of Charged Particle Acceleration" by Stanley Humphries. warning: large file -11.3 MB
http://www.fieldp.com/cpa.html
Or you can get a used one from Amazon.com for $75.00
 
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Bob S said:
Here is a free downloadable book on the "Principles of Charged Particle Acceleration" by Stanley Humphries. warning: large file -11.3 MB
http://www.fieldp.com/cpa.html
Or you can get a used one from Amazon.com for $75.00

Thanks for the link, it looks like good read. i just started reading the introduction and on page 3 Humphries states that " magnetic forces cannot affect a particles kinetic energy".
1 question.
Do the photons of synchrotron radiation not carry away/convert the kinetic energy of the particle?
 
scupydog said:
Thanks for the link, it looks like good read. i just started reading the introduction and on page 3 Humphries states that " magnetic forces cannot affect a particles kinetic energy".
1 question.
Do the photons of synchrotron radiation not carry away/convert the kinetic energy of the particle?
You are correct in that sunchrotron radiation is a direct consequence of the F = q(v x B) (Lorentz) force. I think the author was trying to say is that since both B and F are orthogonal to v, no work is being done, and the force does not add to or subtract from the velocity.
Bob S
 
thx for reply Bob, where does the energy come from for synchrotron radiation... is there a change in mass of the charged particle, or is the amount of energy needed for S.R. equal to the magnetic energy/force applied to the particle.
 
scupydog said:
thx for reply Bob, where does the energy come from for synchrotron radiation... is there a change in mass of the charged particle, or is the amount of energy needed for S.R. equal to the magnetic energy/force applied to the particle.
The synchrotron radiation comes from the deflection of positrons or electrons in bending magnets. it orthogonal to the velocity in the center of mass coord system, but is very forward radiation in the lab system, and comes from the particles' kinetic energy, which is replaced by RF cavities. I have seen potted copper coils on magnets turn black and crack by synchrotron radiation damage.
 
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Hi Bob i,m interested in acceleraters and have visited CERN do you work with acceleraters?
 
scupydog said:
thx for reply Bob, where does the energy come from for synchrotron radiation... is there a change in mass of the charged particle, or is the amount of energy needed for S.R. equal to the magnetic energy/force applied to the particle.

Er... you should be very careful here not to use "E=mc^2" in this process. This is simply classical E&M. The electron (or electron bunch) is losing kinetic energy in such a process.

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
Er... you should be very careful here not to use "E=mc^2" in this process. This is simply classical E&M. The electron (or electron bunch) is losing kinetic energy in such a process.Zz.

How about E2= (pc)2+ (m0c2)2 ?
 
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