Best background for accelerator physics

[sheezeeque]

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 Physics
2. Electrical Engineering

And what about MS? PhD? I think there are some accelerator physicist guys, so I want to hear some advices from you! :)

Thanks in advance.

 

[ShayanJ]

An accelerator is a machine!
It has electrical,mechanical and computer parts and other things that all machines have.But regarding its specific use,its physical.
No one's going to build an accelerator alone,so everyone will do the job which is suited for.So it depends what do you want to do among the things needed to build an accelerator and then you can decide what you should study.
I can only say,if you want a major which is going to tell you how those accelerators work,you should get at least a graduate degree in particle physics.

 

[sheezeeque]

So, if i understand well:
Bc. - Electrical Engineering
Ms. (hope moving to Stanford or other university in US) - Particle Physics
PhD. - Accelerator Physics programme

 

[Student100]

No. If you want to go the doctorate route you should also major in physics.

 

[sheezeeque]

I'm scared about choosing major Physics. Because, what if I don't find a job in physics? But, on the other side, I read an article in symmetry magazine, that accelerator physicists are on demand in the USA and world. So, after all, I'm confused.

 

[ZapperZ]

Please note that accelerator physics, in general has nothing to do with particle physics!

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=410271

If you want to study accelerator physics, the most important subject area you must be good at is classical E&M!

Zz.

 

[sheezeeque]

ZapperZ, what would you recommend me then?

 

[ZapperZ]

ZapperZ, what would you recommend me then?

Re-read my post! Did you miss the last line completely?

Zz.

 

[heatengine516]

Electricity and Magnetism courses are extremely important for accelerator physics, which is why physics is probably the recommended major. Perhaps electrical engineers study those as well but I know for sure at my university EEs don't specifically take E&M I-II. Maybe it is studied in different ways in EE but I don't know much about EE programs.

Do Optics & Lasers or Solid State Physics have any significance to accelerator physics?