How did the cyclotron work?
The cyclotron's operation relies on a combination of a magnetic field and an electric field. Charged particles are injected into the center of a vacuum chamber between two D-shaped electrodes, called 'dees.' A magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the dees causes the particles to move in a spiral path. An alternating electric field between the dees then accelerates the particles each time they cross the gap. This process repeatedly boosts their energy, allowing them to reach very high velocities.
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