What is a cyclotron?

The process begins with charged particles, such as positive or negative ions, being ejected into the center of the cyclotron, from where they start moving toward the edges along a spiral trajectory.

Inside the cyclotron, there are two metal electrodes in the shape of a D (so-called “dees”), which are located between the poles of a large magnet. The magnetic field forces particles to move in a circle, while the alternating electric field increases the energy of the particles each time they cross the gap between the two dees. As particles gain speed and energy, they continue to move outward in a spiral from the center.

As soon as the particles reach the outer edge of the cyclotron, they are directed towards the target. The collision of the accelerated particles with the target can cause a nuclear reaction, resulting in the formation of radioactive isotopes.

Almost a century after its invention, cyclotrons are still in high demand due to their reliability, efficiency, and versatility.

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Without cyclotrons, many instruments, treatment methods, and scientific discoveries that improve the quality of people’s everyday lives would not have appeared. Compact, efficient, and relatively simple to operate, they are ideally suited for the production of medicalradioisotopes— unstable atoms that emit radiation and are used for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

One of the important factors in the production of radioisotopes is the actual period of isotope activity—that is, the time after production during which they remain radioactive and suitable for medical use.

The half-life period of radioisotopes used in cancer treatment usually lasts several days, thanks to which they can effectively destroy cancer cells. During this short time interval, they can also be transported from the production site to hospitals and treatment centers.

At the same time, other diagnostic isotopes have extremely short half-lives — that is, they decay quickly, losing effectiveness within a few hours and are not suitable for transportation over long distances.

Cyclotrons are valued for their ability to produce isotopes on-site or in close proximity to medical institutions, which allows patients to receive fast and accurate diagnostics and timely treatment.

Scanning with the use of radiopharmaceuticals helps doctors detect such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiovascular diseases at an early stage with high accuracy. Early detection allows for improved diagnostics and contributes to more effective treatment planning.

Cyclotrons are also used in cancer treatment, providing the production of special radioactive drugs for use intarget radionuclide therapy. In this type of treatment, the radiation is directed directly at the cancer cells, which allows for their destruction with minimal damage to healthy tissues.

Cyclotrons play an important role in modern infrastructure, healthcare, and scientific research.

Currently, thousands of cyclotrons are in operation worldwide, particularly in hospitals, oncology centers, and research institutions. As the demand for non-invasive diagnostic methods such as PET and SPECT increases, the need for cyclotrons and research centers focused on the production of radioisotopes without the use of uranium is growing.

Previously, many medical radioisotopes were produced in nuclear reactors using uranium, resulting in the formation of long-lived radioactive waste, and the nuclear and physical safety of this process caused concerns. In the search for cleaner and safer methods of producing these important materials, countries are focusing on cyclotrons, which can produce radioisotopes without using uranium.

Thanks to a new generation of compact cyclotrons with low power consumption, this technology is becoming accessible to small hospitals and institutions. Researchers continue to explore new areas of application for radioisotopes in ecology, materials science, and national security.

Although the basic operating principle of the cyclotron has remained unchanged since the 1930s, this vital technology continues to develop and adapt to the needs of the 21st century.

• The IAEA provides assistance to countries worldwide, especially to those facing a shortage of resources for the implementation and application of cyclotron technology and the extraction of benefits from it.
• MAGATE provides recommendations regarding the development of cyclotron infrastructure installations, consults on technical equipment requirements, and ensures compliance with safety standards.
• MAGATE conducts training of medical physicists, engineers, and specialists in the field of nuclear medicine to ensure the availability of qualified personnel in the country for the safe and effective operation of cyclotrons.
• The agency also coordinates activities within the frameworkcoordinated research projects, uniting experts from around the world to create new isotopes, improve cyclotron characteristics, and study new applications in medicine and industry.
• IAEA database on cyclotrons for radionuclide productionиRadio Pharmacy DatabaseProvide directives to employees of management bodies, researchers, technical experts, and students regarding radionuclides produced with the help of cyclotrons, and their use for the preparation of various radiopharmaceuticals for patient care and treatment.