Cyclotron is a device used to accelerate charged particles to high
energies. It was devised by Lawrence.
Principle
Cyclotron works on the principle that a charged particle moving normal to a magnetic field experiences magnetic lorentz force due to
which the particle moves in a circular path.
Construction
It consists of a hollow metal cylinder divided into two sections D1 and D2
called Dees, enclosed in an evacuated chamber. The Dees are kept separated and a source of ions is placed at the centre in the gap between the Dees. They are placed between the pole pieces of a strong electromagnet. The magnetic field acts perpendicular to the plane of the Dees. The Dees are connected to a high frequency oscillator.
Working
When a positive ion of charge q and mass m is emitted from the
source, it is accelerated towards the Dee having a negative potential at
that instant of time. Due to the normal magnetic field, the ion
experiences magnetic lorentz force and moves in a circular path. By the
time the ion arrives at the gap between the Dees, the polarity of the
Dees gets reversed. Hence the particle is once again accelerated and
moves into the other Dee with a greater velocity along a circle of greater
radius. Thus the particle moves in a spiral path of increasing radius
and when it comes near the edge, it is taken out with the help of a
deflector plate (D.P). The particle with high energy is now allowed to hit
the target T. When the particle moves along a circle of radius r with a
velocity v, the magnetic Lorentz force provides the necessary centripetal
force.
Limitations
- Maintaining a uniform magnetic field over a large area of the Dees is difficult.
- At high velocities, relativistic variation of mass of the particle upsets the resonance condition.
- At high frequencies, relativistic variation of mass of the electron is appreciable and hence electrons cannot be accelerated by cyclotron.