New Traveling-Wave Linear Accelerator Model Installed at the NanoTerasu Booth in Sendai City Science Museum

A new model of a traveling-wave linear accelerator has been installed in the NanoTerasu booth on the 3rd floor of the HOKUSHU Sendai City Science Museum, located in the “Life and Science – Wonder Science Room” exhibition area.

This model was created to visually demonstrate the principle of a linear accelerator using a traveling-wave radio-frequency electric field. In the model, the traveling RF electric field is represented by a mechanical traveling wave, allowing visitors to observe and experience how electrons are accelerated.

By turning a handle, visitors generate the mechanical traveling wave that represents the electric field. This wave pushes and accelerates yellow balls that represent electrons, enabling visitors to intuitively understand how particles gain speed in a linear accelerator.