Physicsworld.com homepage. Physics - Content by Unit. The accelerators at Berkeley and Brookhaven were designed to accelerate protons. Physicists at Stanford University had a different idea: an electron accelerator. After all, they reasoned, the proton was not a fundamental particle. And because the electron appeared to have no substructure, it should make a cleaner probe. So Stanford designed and built several generations of linear electron accelerators, culminating in the Mark III accelerator, which grew to over 300 feet in length.
Then in 1951 a diminutive firebrand named Wolfgang Panofsky arrived from Berkeley, after refusing to sign the McCarthy-era loyalty oath required by the state of California. Figure 11: Overview of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Source: © SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory historical photo index. A beam switchyard at the end of the linac directed the beam to different experimental areas, or end stations, much like a railroad switchyard. Rapid development of quark theory More surprising particles.
Home - Particle Physics UK. What is Particle Physics? Particle physics is the study of the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces of nature. This section is for everyone who wants to find out more. Particle Physics Masterclasses Masterclasses are one day events that give sixth form students (and their teachers!) The chance to learn about particle physics from the scientists that are actually doing the research. Co-ordinated by the Institute of Physics, and run by researchers from a range of institutes up and down the country, the classes are designed to provide excellent support for the material on Particle Physics that is in many 16+ curricula. Since the programme began in 1997 the particle physics masterclasses have provided a different and stimulating way to look at particle physics topics for thousands of students from hundreds of schools. Contacts and Speakers for Particle Physics Research Groups in the UK A number of these contacts are available to give talks to schools or other groups.
PhET: Free online physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and math simulations. Quarked! Adventures in the Subatomic Universe. The European Organization for Nuclear Research.