Ask A Scientist© Physics Archive

Question:  I have read a little bit about particle accelerators on the internet. 
I
was wondering why it would not be possible to build a small particle
accelerator liner or other wise that could be used to generate electricity
for home/residential use. Even though the math seems complicated the
design seems simple enough. Could someone build one almost homemade to be
used to turn heat into electricity?
 I've read that these things can generate radiation so that would have to
be a real consideration. If possible what type of system would be used
steam or other, and where would one go to learn more about it. Last of
all, would the department of energy even allow such a thing if someone
attempted it assuming it could be done. I ask this question because I have
considered using solar energy for a home but wondered why not a particle
accelerator instead. If it could generate electricity and could be built
cheaply it seemed like an option. I'm not a home owner yet just thinking
about it. Well that's my question. As you can tell this question is not
from a person well educated in this specific matter but I do appreciate
your time as well as your response
 Thank you
 Lloyd 
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Answer:
Lloyd,
I am not particularly familiar with the field of particle physics but do
occasionally run across articles on the subject.  The particle
accelerators that I am familiar with use huge amounts of energy (I've never
heard of one that used other than electrical energy as a source) and
produce beams with very few particles at very high energy.  They do not
generate energy, they use energy to accelerate a small number of particles
to high energy.
They are expensive to build and take up large amounts of real estate.  As a
result, only governments, educational facilities, and large corporations
can afford to build and maintain them and use them for research purposes to
learn about physics of particles at the subatomic level.
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