What happens to particles in synchrotron accel. if weak magentic field

[Jaimie]

Homework Statement

"Describe what might happen to the particles in the accelerator if the magnetic field was too weak."

Homework Equations

N/A

The Attempt at a Solution

I am merely guessing here. I am looking on the internet for info regarding this but I can't find anything that discusses the action of a weak magnetic field on the particles in this accelerator. I would imagine that as the strong mag. field keeps them on a circular path, a weak mag. field would cause path deviation, perhaps bombarding with the evacuated tube walls? They probably also wouldn't gain enough velocity (and thus kinetic energy) or magnetic force to accelerate them forward to induce the polarity change in the accelerating cavities, and as such, they would be pulled back into the linear accelerator?
Am I completely off-track/missing something?
Thank you for your time.

 

[milesyoung]

The magnetic fields of the synchrotron stages can't actually change the speed of the particles, so their action is only to change the direction of the particle beam such that you aren't just directing it into the walls of the confinement vessel.

I think this then:

I would imagine that as the strong mag. field keeps them on a circular path, a weak mag. field would cause path deviation, perhaps bombarding with the evacuated tube walls?

is a reasonable answer, but let me just mention that I'm in no way an expert when it comes to synchrotrons, so maybe someone with actual experience working with them can weigh in.

 

[Jaimie]

Thank you for your help!