Electrons...

An electron is one of the fundamental particles in nature. Fundamental means that as far as we know, an electron can not be broken down into smaller particles. Electrons are also responsible for many of the phenomena that we observe in everyday life. Mutual repulsion of the electrons in atoms in the floor and those in your shoes keeps you from sinking and disappearing into the floor! Electrons carry electrical current and successful manipulation of these electrons allow electronic devices to function. For example, the picture and text on the screen in front of you is caused by electrons being accelerated and focussed onto the inside of the screen in front of you. A phosphor absorbs the electrons and light is produced. A television screen is a simple and low-energy example of an electron accelerator. A typical medical electron accelerator


is about 1000 times more powerful while the electron accelerator at SLAC

is about 1,000,000 times more powerful.

Here's a picture of a Monte Carlo simulation of typical electron beam in a color television or computer monitor being absorbed in the phosphor screen.


Here's a picture of a Monte Carlo simulation of an electron beam of the sort used in radiotherapy for cancer treatment.


Here's a picture of a Monte Carlo simulation of an 5 high-energy electrons incident on 30 cm of iron.


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