Yale Physics Keeps a 50-Year-Old Particle Accelerator Running for Students
New Haven, CT – Yale University’s Department of Physics operates a classic Van de Graaff particle accelerator, a machine acquired in 1972 and dedicated in 1978, that remains a cornerstone of undergraduate education.
The accelerator delivers a beam of protons in three-second bursts. It is used in courses such as Modern Physics Management (PHYS 2060L) and Advanced Physical Laboratory (PHYS 4450L).
Paul Noel, who operates the machine dozens of times per semester, instructs students in data collection and hands-on experimental physics.
The accelerator's capabilities extend beyond pure physics, finding applications in engineering, biology, medical research, and manufacturing.
Separately, a larger tandem Van de Graaff accelerator at Wright Laboratory was activated in 1987, but it ceased operations in 2011 and was subsequently removed.