Cyclotrons use electromagnetic fields to accelerate charged particles in an outward spiral path, and are used in a variety of applications, including medicine, research, and others in the industry. Like a linear accelerator, a cyclotron accelerates particles to create isotopes, with the advantage of being able to achieve maximum proton current.
As the primary force behind particle acceleration for such applications, the cyclotron is subject to the design constraints of cost, space, and efficient operation, as well as the need for continuous operation over long periods. Unlike other types of accelerators, a cyclotron must fit inside a room. Typically, the electrodes and magnets that energize particles, as well as the spiral path on which the particles travel, are contained within a cylindrical volume that is evacuated and maintained at ultrahigh vacuum for extended periods. Oil-free, efficient pump technologies which produce rough, high, and ultrahigh vacuum are critical for the efficient operation of the cyclotron.
Agilent provides the full range of dry vacuum pumping solutions, from rough to ultrahigh, enabling cyclotron designers to achieve the system performance and operational efficiency they seek. Agilent also provides vacuum gauges for each stage of the evacuation process to ensure the effective transition to (and maintenance of) very low pressures.