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.

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

lin′ear accel′erator

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

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.

Thesaurus

Noun

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

linear accelerator

linear accelerator:

see particle acceleratorparticle accelerator,
apparatus used in nuclear physics to produce beams of energetic charged particles and to direct them against various targets. Such machines, popularly called atom smashers, are needed to observe objects as small as the atomic nucleus in studies of its
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linear accelerator

[′lin·ē·ər ik′sel·ə‚rād·ər] (nucleonics) A particle accelerator which accelerates electrons, protons, or heavy ions in a straight line by the action of alternating voltages. Also known as linac.

linear accelerator

lin·e·ar ac·cel·er·a·tor (LINAC),

a device imparting high velocity and energy to atomic and subatomic particles; an important device for radiation therapy.

linear accelerator

A device that accelerates radioactive particles and beams to body regions affected by malignancy, while minimising damage to normal tissue. Linear accelerators use electrodes and gaps arranged in a straight line, proportioned so when electrical potentials are varied with the proper amplitude and frequency, particles passing through the waveguide receive successive increments of energy, and are therefore accelerated; the device delivers therapeutic radiation in the range of 4 to 25 million volts, as either intense radiation or high-energy electron beams—most commonly, 60Co, delivering 2–10 Gy/min (200–1,000 rads/min) at the centre of an internal malignancy.
Types
External beam radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery.
Indications
Head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative malignancies, seminomas and localised breast cancer, in combination with an excision of malignant lumps.

lin·e·ar ac·cel·er·a·tor

(lin'ē-ăr ak-sel'ĕr-ā-tŏr) A device imparting high velocity and energy to atomic and subatomic particles; an important device for radiation therapy.

linear accelerator

A machine that uses high voltages to accelerate particles so that they can be used in RADIOTHERAPY.

linear accelerator

linear accelerator

linear accelerator

lin′ear accel′erator

linear accelerator

linear accelerator

linear accelerator:

linear accelerator

linear accelerator

lin·e·ar ac·cel·er·a·tor (LINAC),

linear accelerator

lin·e·ar ac·cel·er·a·tor

linear accelerator

linear accelerator

Synonyms for linear accelerator

noun ions are accelerated along a linear path by voltage differences on electrodes along the path

Synonyms

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