The Harrowing Experience of Being in a Particle Accelerator

Particle accelerators are marvels of modern technology, enabling scientists to study the smallest building blocks of matter. However, what would it feel like to be in one of these machines? This article explores the sensory and physiological effects that such an experience would entail.

Medical Applications: Proton Therapy

While particle accelerators are typically used for scientific research, one of their lesser-known applications is in medical treatments, specifically proton therapy. This form of cancer treatment uses a particle accelerator to target and destroy cancer cells with precision. The process is generally performed on patients who are conscious, as the beam is directed through a vacuum window and focused on a patient immobilized in a custom cast.

The Experience in a Particle Accelerator

Given the nature of a particle accelerator, being inside one would be an extremely uncomfortable and potentially harmful experience. As the air is evacuated through a high vacuum environment, a person would quickly experience loss of lung function unless they had exceptionally strong lip and throat muscles. The lack of oxygen would cause extreme discomfort, and the vacuum would likely result in a stinging sensation as the air is sucked out from around the eyes and mouth. Additionally, the sudden changes in pressure would cause the ears to pop, leading to severe pain and potential hearing loss.

Physical and Sensory Effects

Particles within a particle accelerator carry significant energy and electrical charge. Direct exposure to these accelerated particles would result in immediate physical and sensory effects. Patients or individuals unfortunate enough to make contact with intense particle beams report sensations of intense heat and electrical shock. The head, particularly, is vulnerable to these effects, leading to a series of additional symptoms.

Ocular and Neurological Symptoms

The exposure of the head to particle beams poses additional risks, including ocular and neurological symptoms. Electrical currents induced in the eye and brain tissue can cause a phenomenon known as scintillation, where the vitreous humor emits light. This, coupled with localized thermal destruction of tissue, can lead to intense visual disturbances and pain.

Delayed Effects and Long-Term Consequences

The most significant and long-lasting effects of exposure to ionizing radiation from particle accelerators are the delayed effects and potential for severe, permanent disabilities. These beams are highly penetrating and can cause massive damage to cellular DNA, leading to irreparable damage in affected tissues. This can result in swelling, infection, and loss of function in the affected areas. In the most severe cases, survivors may experience the loss of appendages or even limbs.

A Worst-Case Scenario: The Head

The head, while less frequently involved in direct exposure, is not immune to the severe consequences of particle beam exposure. Such exposure could lead to swelling, which, in extreme cases, could result in brain damage, permanent blindness, and hearing loss. The nature of the long-term neurological damage would vary depending on the specific brain structures affected.

Conclusion

While the applications of particle accelerators in medical treatments such as proton therapy are significant and life-saving, the experience of being exposed to the intense particle beams within such machines would be extremely uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening. The physical and sensory effects, combined with the delayed and long-term consequences, underscore the importance of strict safety protocols and the limited use of particle accelerators in such scenarios.