heavy-ion linear accelerator

heavy-ion linear accelerator

[′hev·ē ¦ī‚än ¦lin·ē·ər ak′sel·ə‚rād·ər] (nucleonics) A linear accelerator which produces a beam of heavy particles of high intensity and sharp energy; used to produce transuranic elements and short-lived isotopes, and to study nuclear reactions, nuclear spectroscopy, and the absorption of heavy ions in matter. Also known as heavy-ion linac; hilac.