Cyclotron Frequency: Is it Truly Independent of Energy and Mass?

[zeynep altay]

Do cyclotrons make use of the principle that the cyclotron frequency is independent of energy?

 

[BvU]

Hello zeynep,

Short question, short answer ?

Yes

 

[sophiecentaur]

Do cyclotrons make use of the principle that the cyclotron frequency is independent of energy?

Just to keep things going: It is relatively easy to make electrons travel at relativistic speeds and that requires the driving frequency to be varied to compensate for the changing relativistic mass. See Synchrocyclotron.

 

[Meir Achuz]

relativistic mass?

 

[sophiecentaur]

relativistic mass?

Not the current word (slip of the keyboard) but the mass that needs to be made to orbit increases and the frequency needs to be changed. A change of terms didn't change the requirement for a synchrocyclotron.

 

[Meir Achuz]

mass that needs to be made to orbit increases?
p=mv gamma. Gamma increases, not the mass.

 

[sophiecentaur]

mass that needs to be made to orbit increases?
p=mv gamma. Gamma increases, not the mass.

Yes. That is the better informed way to say it but this and many other sources still use the wrong term but get the right answer. I will try to bring myself into the twenty first century.