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.

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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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of synchrotron

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

synchrotron

Investigating these changes requires exceptionally precise equipment, including synchrotron X-ray diffraction, a technique that reveals the arrangement of atoms inside crystalline materials.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

There, they used the facility's synchrotron, a circular particle accelerator that generates powerful X-rays.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

"Our search for the molybdenum was technically extremely challenging and required the experts at the synchrotron to push their instrument to its absolute limits," says Wagner.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

At Diamond Light Source, the team used synchrotron X-ray microtomography to watch crystals form inside the magma in real time.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

Lawrence’s careful groundwork with Groves bore fruit, for the general gave freely of the army’s surplus bounty, including the radar oscillators for Alvarez and a supply of capacitors for McMillan’s synchrotron, worth $203,000.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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Related Words

• accelerator

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