PARTICLE PHYSICS A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site linear accelerator Also known as a linac, a type of particle accelerator in which charged particles travel in straight lines through a vaccum chamber. Early linear accelerators were electrostatic accelerators. In more modern types, a high-frequency, alternating electric field is used to accelerate the particles. Final energies depend on the length of the chamber, and can reach several GeV (billion electron volts). The linear accelerator at Stanford University is 3.2 km (2 miles) long and produces electrons and positrons with energies up to 50 GeV. Related category    • PARTICLE PHYSICS Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP