Problems solved by the cyclotron

The cyclotron was an advance over the beeline accelerators that were accessible if it was invented. A beeline accelerator (also alleged a linac) accelerates particles in a beeline band through an abandoned tube (or alternation of such tubes placed end to end). A set of electrodes shaped like collapsed donuts are abiding central the breadth of the tube(s). These are apprenticed by high-power radio after-effects that continuously about-face amid absolute and abrogating voltage, causing particles traveling forth the centermost of the tube to accelerate. In the 1920s, it was not accessible to get top abundance radio after-effects at top power, so either the accelerating electrodes had to be far afar to board the low abundance or added stages were appropriate to atone for the low ability at anniversary stage. Either way, higher-energy particles appropriate best accelerators than scientists could afford.

Modern linacs use top ability Klystrons and added accessories able to admit abundant added ability at college frequencies. But afore these accessories existed, cyclotrons were cheaper than linacs. Cyclotrons advance particles in a circling path. Therefore, a bunched accelerator can accommodate abundant added ambit than a beeline accelerator, with added opportunities to advance the particles.