Linear particles accelerator

Question

Why in a linear accelerator is used an AC voltage?

Wouldn't it work with a constant electric field?

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/553776/how-is-speed-measured-in-the-lhc/553793#553793 has some discussion of the linac principle. — Jon Custer, May 27 '20 at 14:52
@rob you can find it on WIkipedia "Linear Particle Accelerator" — Salmon, May 27 '20 at 17:05

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered May 27 '20 at 14:40

3

DC fields where used in early accelerators, such as Van de Graaff generators and pelletrons.

The LHC accelerates protons to 7 TeV. How are you going to create and maintain a 7,000,000,000 volt DC field?

answered May 27 '20 at 14:40

JEB

Electrostatic accelerators are still used, mind you! Both Cockroft-Walton and Van de Graaff types (pelletrons are a variant on Van de Graaffs - our High Voltage Engineering tandem now uses pelletron charging chains rather than the original belt). – Jon Custer May 27 '20 at 15:09

1 Answers1