While all particle accelerators share a common goal – boosting the energy of particles – they achieve this in different ways.
Cyclotrons accelerate particles in a spiral path using a constant magnetic field and an alternating electric field. The spiral design is one of the cyclotron’s main advantages. It allows for continuous acceleration in a relatively small space. As a result, cyclotrons are typically smaller, often room-sized, and more affordable than other accelerators. They can be installed in hospitals or university labs without needing massive facilities. Cyclotrons are also well-suited for producing specific types of radioactive isotopes needed in medical imaging and cancer treatment, and for other localized applications in research or industry.
In contrast, linear accelerators, or linacs, propel particles in a straight line using a series of electric fields. While linacs can be simpler in design, they often require much more space to achieve the same energy levels as a cyclotron. They are commonly used in radiotherapy, where precise targeted beams of radiation are used to treat tumours.
Another type of accelerator is the synchrotron – a much larger and more complex machine found in national research centres. Like cyclotrons, they guide particles in a circular path, but with variable magnetic fields and radiofrequency acceleration. These machines can reach extremely high energies, making them suitable for research in particle physics, materials science, and even drug development. However, due to their size and cost, they are typically used by national or international research centres, not hospitals or small labs.
