CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY Meaning and
Definition
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The cyclotron frequency refers to the angular frequency at which charged particles revolve in a circular trajectory within a magnetic field. It is a fundamental concept used in particle physics and is defined as the ratio of the charge of a particle to its mass, multiplied by the strength of the magnetic field.
In a cyclotron, charged particles, typically protons or electrons, are accelerated by an alternating electric field between two hollow semicircular electrodes. The particles are injected at the center and follow a spiraling path due to the Lorentz force exerted by the magnetic field. The cyclotron frequency, denoted by ωc, is expressed mathematically as ωc = qB/m, where q represents the charge of the particle, B denotes the strength of the magnetic field, and m corresponds to the mass of the particle.
The cyclotron frequency is crucial in understanding the behavior of charged particles in numerous applications, including particle accelerators, mass spectrometers, and plasma physics. By manipulating the magnetic field strength, the cyclotron frequency can be adjusted to control the energy of the particles or separate them based on their mass-to-charge ratio.
Moreover, the cyclotron frequency is interconnected with the gyroradius, which represents the radius of the circular trajectory that charged particles follow. The gyroradius and cyclotron frequency are inversely proportional, meaning that increasing the frequency or magnetic field strength will result in a smaller gyroradius. This relationship is vital in designing and operating devices that depend on charged particle motion in magnetic fields.
Common Misspellings for CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
- xyclotron frequency
- vyclotron frequency
- fyclotron frequency
- dyclotron frequency
- ctclotron frequency
- cgclotron frequency
- chclotron frequency
- cuclotron frequency
- c7clotron frequency
- c6clotron frequency
- cyxlotron frequency
- cyvlotron frequency
- cyflotron frequency
- cydlotron frequency
- cyckotron frequency
- cycpotron frequency
- cycootron frequency
- cyclitron frequency
- cyclktron frequency
- cyclltron frequency
Etymology of CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
The word "cyclotron" originates from the Greek words "kyklos", meaning circle or cycle, and "tron", which refers to an instrument or device. It was coined by the American physicist Ernest O. Lawrence, who developed the first cyclotron in the early 1930s.
The term "cyclotron frequency" refers to the frequency at which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, orbit in a cyclotron. The frequency is determined by the strength of the magnetic field and the mass-to-charge ratio of the particles. Therefore, the term "cyclotron frequency" is derived from the name of the instrument and the concept of particles undergoing circular motion in a magnetic field.
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