Electron linear accelerator

definition:

An electron linear accelerator is a type of charged particle accelerator that uses high microwave power to establish a longitudinal electric field in a traveling wave or standing wave acceleration structure to accelerate an electron beam. It is a resonant accelerator. Its basic characteristics are that the electron beam is accelerated on a linear trajectory, has a linear motion trajectory, and can generate high-energy rays.


working principle:

Electron linear accelerators accelerate electrons through microwave electromagnetic fields. According to the type of microwave, it can be divided into traveling wave and standing wave electron linear accelerators. Its electron energy is generally high (greater than 5MeV), and its output power ranges from a few kW to several tens of kW. Within the scope of radiation processing safety permits, high-energy (greater than 5MeV) electrons have the deepest effective penetration into the irradiated object, and the conversion efficiency of X-rays is also high, which can be converted into X-rays for radiation, thus being widely used.

Main components:

The basic components of an electron linear accelerator include an electron gun, acceleration structure, focusing system, modulator, power source, microwave transmission system, vacuum system, control system, constant temperature system, beam transport system, etc. These components work together to accelerate, focus, and transmit the electron beam.

Application areas:

Electron linear accelerators have a wide range of applications in medical, industrial, scientific research, and other fields. For example, in the medical field, it is used for radiation disinfection of medical products; In the industrial field, it is used for food preservation, electronic component modification, tire vulcanization, and other purposes; In the field of scientific research, it can be used in high-energy physics research, material modification, and other areas.

The difference between electron accelerator and electron linear accelerator

Definition scope:

Electron accelerator: It is a broader concept that includes various types of accelerators, such as electron linear accelerator, electron cyclotron, electron induction accelerator, etc. These accelerators are devices that use electric or magnetic fields to accelerate electrons.


Electron linear accelerator: specifically refers to an accelerator that accelerates an electron beam on a linear orbit. It is a specific type of electron accelerator.

working principle:

Electron accelerator: Depending on the type of accelerator, its working principle may vary. But overall, they all use electric or magnetic fields to accelerate electrons.

Electron linear accelerator: It uses high microwave power to establish a longitudinal electric field in a traveling wave or standing wave acceleration structure to accelerate the electron beam.
Application areas:

Electron accelerator: Due to its diverse types, its application fields are also very extensive. Different types of electron accelerators have their own unique applications in medical, industrial, scientific research, and other fields.


Electron linear accelerator: Although widely used in various fields, its specific linear acceleration characteristics give it unique advantages in certain areas such as high-energy physics research, radiation processing, etc.

In summary, electron linear accelerators are a specific type of electron accelerator, which have both connections and differences in their definition scope, working principles, and application fields.