Accelerator Physics

Accelerators are the workhorses of nuclear physics research — the ones with the muscle to smash atoms so the consequences can be studied. Although the language of accelerator physics may sometimes sound more like auto racing, it is the cornerstone of understanding the origins of the universe.

Yet, even with such lofty goals, accelerators can be engineered to come in all sizes — from a tabletop to a small city — and they are key to battling cancer and other illnesses. As a general rule, bigger accelerators pack more power, but new technologies developed at NSCL and other laboratories help to reduce size and cost.