Tabletop Particle Accelerator Poised to Revolutionize Medicine and Materials Science
LIVERPOOL, UK – A newly simulated particle accelerator, dramatically smaller and potentially more accessible than existing large-scale facilities, could revolutionize fields ranging from medical imaging to materials engineering, researchers at the University of Liverpool announced this week. The technology,detailed at the 2025 NanoAc workshop in Liverpool,utilizes powerful circularly polarized lasers and precisely fabricated nanotube structures to generate particle beams – a feat previously requiring massive infrastructure.
Currently in the simulation stage,the proposed accelerator promises to deliver performance comparable to its larger counterparts,but in a substantially reduced footprint. This miniaturization could democratize access to advanced research tools,enabling a wider range of institutions to conduct cutting-edge work.
The potential applications are vast. In medicine,the technology could lead to clearer mammograms and novel imaging techniques capable of revealing soft tissues in unprecedented detail,eliminating the need for contrast agents. drug growth could be accelerated through in-house analysis of protein structures, streamlining the design of new therapies. Moreover, the accelerator could facilitate non-destructive, high-speed testing of delicate components in materials science and semiconductor engineering.
“What excites me most about this technology is not just the physics, but what it represents,” said Carsten P. Welsch,Professor of Physics at the University of Liverpool. “Large-scale accelerators have driven enormous scientific progress, but they remain out of reach for most institutions. A miniaturised accelerator…could democratise access to world-class research tools.”
The necessary components for building the accelerator - powerful lasers and nanotube structures – are already standard tools in advanced research labs, suggesting a relatively swift path toward experimental verification. While large-scale accelerators will continue to push the boundaries of energy and finding, this development signals a future where particle acceleration is both more powerful and more accessible.
