linear accelerator

American  

noun

Physics.

1. an accelerator in which particles are propelled in straight paths by the use of alternating electric voltages that are timed in such a way that the particles receive increasing increments of energy.

---

linear accelerator British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: linac.  an accelerator in which charged particles are accelerated along a linear path by potential differences applied to a number of electrodes along their path

---

linear accelerator Scientific  

1. A type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged subatomic particles, such as protons and electrons, in a straight line by means of alternating negative and positive impulses from electric fields. Linear accelerators were largely supplanted by cyclotrons and other architectures that require less path length to achieve the same or higher particle velocities.

2. See Note at particle accelerator

---

Etymology

Origin of linear accelerator

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The team produced the arsenic-73 using FRIB's ReA accelerator, which they operated in a standalone configuration rather than relying on the main linear accelerator.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

It’s not your local vet that has a $2 million linear accelerator that aims radiation at cancer tumors with pinpoint accuracy.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024

The original plan for the SNS called for a conventional linear accelerator made of copper accelerating cavities.

From Science Magazine • May 3, 2023

I had to lie down with a linear accelerator, so I got a lot of chances to read.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 6, 2019

As for Alvarez’s linear accelerator, Lawrence did not even submit an estimate—the device was too novel even to calculate a rough construction budget.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• accelerator