Cyclotron is a device used to accelerate charged particles to high
energies. It was devised by Lawrence.

Principle of Cyclotron
It works on the principle that a charged particle moving normal to a
magnetic field experiences magnetic lorentz force due to which the particle moves in a circular path.

Construction of Cyclotron
It consists of a hollow metal cylinder divided into two sections D1 and D2 called Dees, enclosed in an evacuated chamber as shown in animation. The Dees are kept separated and a source of ions is placed at the centre in the gap between the Dees. They are placed between the pole pieces of a strong electromagnet. The magnetic field acts perpendicular to the plane of the Dees. The Dees are connected to a high frequency oscillator.

Working of Cyclotron
When a positive ion of charge q and mass m is emitted from the source, it is accelerated towards the Dee having a negative potential at that instant of time. Due to the normal magnetic field, the ion experiences magnetic lorentz force and moves in a circular path. By the time the ion arrives at the gap between the Dees, the polarity of the Dees gets reversed. Hence the particle is once again accelerated and moves into the other Dee with a greater velocity along a circle of greater radius. Thus the particle moves in a spiral path of increasing radius and when it comes near the edge, it is taken out with the help of a deflector plate (D.P). The particle with high energy is now allowed to hit the target T.

Limitations
(i) Maintaining a uniform magnetic field over a large area of the Dees is difficult.
(ii) At high velocities, relativistic variation of mass of the particle
upsets the resonance condition.
(iii) At high frequencies, relativistic variation of mass of the electron
is appreciable and hence electrons cannot be accelerated by cyclotron.

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