linear accelerator

linear accelerator

n.

An electron, proton, or heavy-ion accelerator in which the paths of the particles accelerated are essentially straight lines rather than circles or spirals. Also called linac.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

linear accelerator

n

(Nuclear Physics) an accelerator in which charged particles are accelerated along a linear path by potential differences applied to a number of electrodes along their path. Sometimes shortened to: linac

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

lin′ear accel′erator

n.

an accelerator in which particles are propelled in straight paths by the use of alternating electric voltages.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

linear accelerator

A device that accelerates charged subatomic particles, such as protons and electrons, in a straight line by means of alternating negative and positive impulses from electric fields. Linear accelerators are used to bring about high-speed particle collisions in order to study subatomic structures. Compare cyclotron.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

linear accelerator - ions are accelerated along a linear path by voltage differences on electrodes along the path linac atom smasher, particle accelerator, accelerator - a scientific instrument that increases the kinetic energy of charged particles microwave linear accelerator - linear accelerator that uses microwaves

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