Betatron

Description:

Betatron is the very first type of cyclic particle accelerator, a device similar to the one used in the CERN research center. The diameter of the CERN accelerator is 8,6 km, here it is only a few centimeters. The tube is evacuated and a large transformer core would be running through the center of the tube. A beam of electrons came out of the cathode and would be accelerated to a rotational motion by the alternating magnetic field of the transformer. The beam would behave as a secondary winding of the transformer and energy would be passed to it. The tube contains a target which would be stricken by the very fast-moving electrons. Very strong X-ray radiation would be emitted. The device was used as a powerful X-ray machine for detection of defects in steel castings etc..