synchrotron

American  

[sing-kruh-tron] / ˈsɪŋ krəˌtrɒn /

noun

Physics.

1. a type of cyclotron consisting of magnetic sections alternately spaced with sections in which particles are electrostatically accelerated.

---

synchrotron British  

/ ˈsɪŋkrəˌtrɒn /

noun

1. a type of particle accelerator similar to a betatron but having an electric field of fixed frequency with electrons but not with protons as well as a changing magnetic field. It is capable of producing very high energies in the GeV range

---

synchrotron Scientific  

/ sĭng′krə-trŏn′ /

1. A type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged subatomic particles (generally protons) in a circular path. Unlike cyclotrons and synchrocyclotrons, in which particles follow a spiral path, synchrotrons consist of a single ring-shaped tube through which the particles loop numerous times, guided by precisely synchronized magnetic fields and accelerated at various points in the loop by electric field bursts. Synchrotrons are currently the most powerful particle accelerators, and the study of high-energy collisions driven by synchrotrons has lead to the discovery of many subatomic particles.

2. See also cyclotron synchrocyclotron See Note at particle accelerator

---

Etymology

Origin of synchrotron

First recorded in 1945–50; synchro- + -tron

Example Sentences

At the facility, a synchrotron particle accelerator generated an intense X ray beam capable of scanning many specimens quickly.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

Diamond Light Source is a synchrotron, which fires electrons around a giant ring at nearly the speed of light.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025

Outside of PSI, such advanced methods are available at only a few other synchrotron facilities worldwide.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2025

Inside this huge machine, which is called a synchrotron, electrons are accelerated to almost the speed of light to produce a powerful X-ray beam that can probe the scroll without damaging it.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2025

The insight, which would be implemented in an accelerator known as the synchrotron, was a breakthrough on a par with Lawrence’s own recognition of the cyclotron principle.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• accelerator