betatron

American  

[bay-tuh-tron, bee-] / ˈbeɪ təˌtrɒn, ˈbi- /

noun

Physics.

1. an accelerator in which electrons are accelerated to high energies by an electric field produced by a changing magnetic field.

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betatron British  

/ ˈbiːtəˌtrɒn /

noun

1. a type of particle accelerator for producing high-energy beams of electrons, having an alternating magnetic field to keep the electrons in a circular orbit of fixed radius and accelerate them by magnetic induction. It produces energies of up to about 300 MeV

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betatron Scientific  

/ bā′tə-trŏn′ /

1. A type of particle accelerator that uses changing magnetic fields to accelerate electrons. Energies of several hundred million electron volts can be achieved in a betatron.

2. See also particle accelerator

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Etymology

Origin of betatron

1940–45; beta ( see beta particle) + -tron

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

betatron

The principal purpose of the Illinois betatron will be to produce copious supplies of mesons, the particles which are thought to be connected with the "binding force" that holds atomic nuclei together.

From Time Magazine Archive

The only patients accepted for the betatron were those with cancers so far advanced that no other treatment offered any hope.

From Time Magazine Archive

Yet only four of the betatron patients are known to have died of cancer; eight have died from other causes not directly related to cancer.

From Time Magazine Archive

Meanwhile, the doctors are trying something new with the betatron.

From Time Magazine Archive

Even twenty billion volts is not the best they can do, and this is 200 times the energy of the champion electrons from General Electric's giant betatron.

From Time Magazine Archive

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