Limitations of Cyclotron || Moving Charges and Magnetism Class 12, JEE & NEET

Here are some of the Limitations of Cyclotron listed below:

1. When a charged particle is accelerated, its mass also starts increasing with increase in its speed. When its speed become comparable to that of light, the mass of the charged particle become quite large as compared to its rest mass.

If $\mathrm{m}_{0}$ = rest mass, mass of charged particle moving with speed $v$ is $\quad m=\frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}}$

Substituting for $\mathrm{m}$ in equation, we have

time spent inside a dee, $t=\frac{\pi \mathrm{m}_{0}}{\mathrm{qB} \sqrt{1-\frac{\mathrm{v}^{2}}{\mathrm{c}^{2}}}}$

Therefore, as v increases, t also increases i.e. the charged particle starts taking more and more time to complete the semi-circular path inside the dee.

Since electric field changes the polarity of the dees after a fixed interval, the charged particle starts lagging behind the electric field and it us ultimately lost by colliding against the walls of the dees.\

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However, this problem is overcome in the following two ways :

(a) As $v$ increases, $\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}$ decreases. Therefore, $B$ is increased in such a manner that the facror $\mathrm{B} \sqrt{1-\frac{\mathrm{v}^{2}}{\mathrm{c}^{2}}}$ and hence t always remains constatn. Such a cyclotron, in which the strength of magnetic field is adjusted to eovercome the problem due to relative variation in mass of the positive ion, is called synchrotron.

(b) The frequency of revolution of charged [particle inside the dees] may be expressed as

$v=B q \sqrt{\frac{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}{2 \pi m_{0}}}$

It follows that as $v$ increases, $\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}$ decreases and hence v decreases. If frequency of the electric field is adjusted to be always equal to the frequency of revolution of the charged particle, then such a cyclotron is called synchro-cyclotron or frequency modulated cyclotron.

2. Cyclotron is used to accelerate heavy charged particles, such as protons. It is not suitable for accelerating electrons.

The reason is that due to small mass, the electrons gain in speed quickly and likewise the relativistic variation in mass quickly makes them out of step with the oscillating electric field.

Click here for the Video tutorials of Magnetic Effect of Current Class 12

Also Read

• Right Hand Thumb Rule
• Biot Savart’s Law
• Right Hand Palm Rule
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• Magnetic Field at the Centre of a Circular Coil  
• Ampere's Circuital Law and it Applications
• Magnetic Field of a Solenoid || Class 12 Physics Notes
• Solenoid and Toroid | Difference between Solenoid and Toroid
• Force on a Current Carrying Conductor in a Magnetic Field
• Flemings Left Hand Rule Class 12 Physics
• Torque on a Current loop in a Magnetic Field
• Motion of Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field
• Motion of Charged Particle in Electric and Magnetic Field
• Force on a Moving Charge in a Magnetic Field
• Force Between Two Parallel Current Carrying Conductors
• Cyclotron Working Principle, Applications & Frequency
• Construction and Working Principle of Cyclotron
• Limitations of Cyclotron
• Magnetic Field due to Infinite Straight Conductor

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