Accelerator physicist
An accelerator physicist is a specialized scientist who conducts research using particle accelerators—devices that employ electromagnetic fields to accelerate charged particles, such as protons and electrons, to high velocities. These physicists work in various settings, including laboratories, private companies, research institutions, and government agencies, where they design experiments to explore fundamental questions about matter and the universe, including the behavior of atomic nuclei and the origins of elements. While many large particle accelerators are mainly associated with fundamental research in physics, more than one-third are utilized in the medical field for cancer diagnosis and treatment, illustrating the diverse applications of this discipline.
To become an accelerator physicist, individuals typically require a PhD in physics or a related field, alongside postdoctoral research experience. The career outlook for this profession is strong, with a predicted growth rate of 5% through the next decade, reflecting the increasing demand for expertise in both fundamental research and applied science. Salaries for accelerator physicists vary widely, with a median annual income around $139,220. The field is not only integral to advancing scientific knowledge but also plays a crucial role in technological innovations across healthcare, nuclear energy, and national security.
Accelerator physicist
Earnings (Yearly Median): $139,220 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
Employment and Outlook: 5% (Faster than average) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
O*NET-SOC Code: 19-2012.00
Related Career Clusters: Government & Public Administration; Health Science; Manufacturing; Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Scope of Work
Accelerator physicists work in laboratories, private companies, research institutions, and for the federal government. Accelerator physicists design and conduct experiments with particle accelerators, devices that use electromagnetic fields to accelerate particles in a vacuum. In large accelerators, these particles are accelerated to a velocity near the speed of light and are sustained in beams that collide with other moving particles. Accelerator physicists analyze the collisions of these subatomic particles and uncover valuable information about the subatomic world: the makeup of matter, the structure and behavior of an atom’s nucleus, and the discovery of new elements.
Accelerator physicists also use particle accelerators to simulate the creation of the universe—a process commonly known as the Big Bang—via the high velocity collision of molecules. From these findings, accelerator physicists are able to uncover further insights into the structure and genesis of the universe. However, only a small number of the world’s particle accelerators are used for studying particle physics. More than one-third of accelerators are used as important tools in the medical industry for cancer imaging and therapy. Accelerators are also used for pharmaceutical research, nuclear energy, and national security purposes.
Education and Coursework
Accelerator physicists need PhDs to work in research positions for the government, universities, and other institutions. Bachelor’s or master’s degrees, in other words, will not qualify individuals for research positions in physics, but they will qualify them for assistant and technician positions (bachelor’s) and developmental positions (master’s) in a laboratory. For some employers, an applicant with a master’s degree in physics with ten or more years of professional experience may qualify for a research position; however, a PhD is strongly preferred.
PhD programs in physics take five to seven years to complete. In addition to spending four years as undergraduate students, many PhD candidates also hold master’s degrees in physics or a related field, such as astronomy or engineering. PhD programs in physics are highly competitive, and candidates must have excellent academic records and laboratory experience in academic settings or professional internships. The physics PhD program at Stanford University, for example, receives more than five hundred applications every year and only admits sixty students. In addition to high grade point averages and professional experience, applicants must score high on the GRE and the subject test in physics (PGRE).
To succeed in intensive PhD programs and as professional accelerator physicists, candidates must have superior mathematical, analytical, problem-solving, interpersonal, and critical-thinking skills. Coursework includes advanced classes in math and science—calculus, quantum chemistry and mechanics, theoretical physics, statistics, and thermodynamics. Computer lab courses are also required to develop skills in specialized software used to analyze the results of experiments.
PhDs culminate in dissertations, extensive theses that make new contributions to the physics field. After completing their dissertations and earning their doctorate degrees, accelerator physicists are obligated to pursue postdoctoral research. Postdoctoral positions offer recent PhDs the chance to gain experience in professional research labs. During postdoctoral research, physicists work under the supervision of senior physicists for approximately two to three years.
Career Enhancement and Training
Accelerator physicists need PhDs and postdoctoral experience to qualify for research positions, but they do not need to be licensed. If accelerator physicists are employed by the US government, they need to be US citizens and have a high-security clearance—if they are involved in researching nuclear or military weapons, for example—that allows them access to confidential military information.
Cornell University is home to the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR), a world-class particle accelerator that has made Cornell world renowned for its accelerator-physics program. In this program, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with a particle accelerator. This valuable facility makes Cornell’s program not only one of the largest of its kind but also offers first-class training for future accelerator physicists. Another high-energy accelerator is the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), a national laboratory in California.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is home to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest particle accelerator in the world. In addition to being one of the birthplaces of the Internet, this laboratory is heavily involved in international research and training. CERN employs more than two thousand personnel and is a world-renowned laboratory in the physics world—hosting more than ten thousand scientists and students from more than six hundred universities. More than half of the world’s physicists involved in particle accelerators have visited CERN. Training in a facility such as CERN is valuable experience for students on the path to becoming accelerator physicists, and visiting the facility is the ideal opportunity to network at the world’s largest physics laboratory.
Another organization for physicists from all disciplines is the American Physical Society (APS). This organization is not as large as CERN, but it connects more than fifty thousand physics professionals on an international platform. The APS is known for hosting programs and exhibitions that promote collaboration among researchers, educators, and scientists. This organization is a valuable resource for future physicists and offers a one-year free trial membership to undergraduate and graduate students. Joining APS as an undergraduate or graduate student will expose individuals to current innovations in the physics industry, connect them with working professionals, and ultimately augment their resume. Being a member of APS, or any professional organization for that matter, shows an employer or a university admissions committee both commitment and dedication to the field.
Daily Tasks and Technology
Accelerator physicists are primarily involved in conducting research and experiments. Laboratory experiments with large particle accelerators conducted by accelerator physicists are central to the understanding of the universe and matter at its most fundamental level. However, accelerator physicists are also involved in the design and production of thousands of smaller accelerators used in the medical industry to diagnose and treat cancer and other illnesses. Moreover, small accelerators are involved in materials research, manufacturing, and homeland security.
Large particle accelerators work by accelerating and colliding charged particles—electrons, protons, and other subatomic particles—at a velocity close to the speed of light. There are two types of particle accelerators: linear and circular. In linear accelerators, a beam is sent through the mechanism only once. Circular accelerators, on the other hand, use magnets to bend the beam, allowing it to move continuously in a circular motion. A linear accelerator uses a fixed location and fires a particle beam at this target. In a circular accelerator, two beams are accelerated at high speeds and collided.
Linear accelerators are used in medicine to treat and diagnose cancer. They do so via positron-emission tomography (PET), a nuclear imaging technique. They are also used to target cancerous tumors by firing a beam of radiation at malignant tumors. The precision of this radiation treatment decreases the chance of damaging surrounding tissues and organs.
The US military uses accelerators to scan for bombs in chemicals and cargo. The accelerators are also used in ships for antimissile detection and in nuclear plants to monitor tests of nuclear weapons. Other applications and technology include the Accélérateur Grand Louvre d’Analyse Elémentaire (better known as AGLAE), an accelerator used in the Louvre to study works of art. Accelerators are also used for ion implantation, in which ions are accelerated and implanted into electronic devices to increase their conductivity and efficiency, thereby decreasing overall cost.
Earnings and Employment Outlook
The demand for physicists and astronomers as a whole is expected to grow 9 percent per year—faster than average—from 2018 through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Scientists agree that accelerator physics is a vital discipline for the scientific community. Particle accelerators are not only being used to conduct research and reveal aspects of matter and the universe but also are being applied to medicine, manufacturing, and nuclear technology. A number of new high-powered accelerators are being developed, including the International Linear Collider (ILC). Fermilab, an organization under the US Department of Energy, has plans to develop large particle accelerators.
According to information accessed from the website ZipRecruiter, in 2023, the national average for an accelerator physicist was $98,670 per year, and the overall salary range was $41,500 to $240,000.
Related Occupations
• Electrical Engineers:Electrical engineers design and produce electronic equipment, including broadcast systems and communication technology.
• Physicists and Astronomers:Physicists and astronomers develop technology and conduct research by studying the universe, space, and matter.
• Chemists/Materials Scientists:Chemists and materials scientists study the properties of chemical substances and develop new technology.
• Mechanical Engineers:Mechanical engineers design mechanical systems, such as machines and tools, with the use of physics and materials science.
• Civil Engineers:Civil engineers oversee the design and configuration of roads, bridges, and other large natural and physical construction projects.
Future Applications
The research conducted at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider is constantly uncovering information on the origin of mass, dark matter, and other materials that compose the universe. The construction of additional particle accelerators, such as the International Linear Collider, will provide further insights into the creation of the universe as well as the structure and behavior of atoms. The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams is expected to develop an updated and larger version of the LHC.
In addition to research with large accelerators, smaller particle accelerators are being applied in a number of ways. The US Navy and Air Force, in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), are funding the development of new weaponized lasers called free-electron lasers (FEL). The FEL will use a linear particle accelerator and a magnetic field to fire a beam of electrons at high power. The Office of Naval Research released the results of an experiment wherein a laser was capable of disarming a target from more than a mile away. However, the laser used in the experiment was only 15 kilowatts, whereas the free-electron laser will be close to 100 kilowatts in power. The US military expects to implement this weapon by 2020.
Another major obstacle for accelerator physicists is solving the energy crisis. Physicists and scientists are developing a nuclear reactor that uses a particle accelerator and thorium (a less expensive and safer alternative to uranium) to prevent nuclear accidents, decrease cost, and increase the efficiency of nuclear plants. New and improved nuclear plants, called accelerator-driven subcritical reactors, could be operational by 2030.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, the first being heart disease. Beam therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, and scientists continue to enhance existing technology to increase precision and efficiency. A proton therapy system, for example, which uses a beam of protons to treat cancerous tissue, is a technology under development. Unlike other radiation beams, proton beam therapy will be more precise and cause less damage to surrounding tissue and organs.
Bibliography
"19-2012.00 – Physicists." O*NET Online, 2022, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-2012.00. Accessed8 Sept. 2023.
"Physicists and Astronomers." Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/physicists-and-astronomers.htm. Accessed 8 Sept. 2023.