The Pocket-Sized Particle Accelerator
Researchers have built a particle accelerator that fits on a silicon-chip with a wealth of possible applications, including in the battle against cancer.
At Stanford University there exists a powerful juxtaposition in the field of particle acceleration. On the hillside overlooking the University sits the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, which houses a 2-mile long, linear particle accelerator. Meanwhile, in its shadow, scientists at SLAC and Stanford have developed a particle accelerator that does the same job but can also fit on a silicon chip.
Of course, such a disparity in size does create other major differences. Whilst the giant accelerator fires streams of electrons through a vacuum pipe with bursts of microwave radiation pushing them to near light speed, the pocket-sized particle accelerator can accelerate electrons to only a fraction of that velocity. This is still an impressive feat, however, as the infrared laser used by the mini-accelerator can deliver enough energy in just the width of a hair to push the electron to this speed. The same boost in the larger equipment takes the microwaves many feet to impart.
The accelerator-on-a-chip is just a prototype, but its design and fabrication techniques can be scaled up…