Particle accelerators can indeed be used to accelerate whole atoms, including protons, neutrons, and electrons. However, the process of accelerating atoms is more complex compared to accelerating individual particles like protons or electrons.
In a typical particle accelerator, such as a linear accelerator (linac) or a circular accelerator (synchrotron), charged particles are accelerated by electric fields or magnetic fields. These fields exert forces on the particles, causing them to gain energy and increase their speed.
To accelerate whole atoms, the accelerator must first strip away the electrons from the atom, leaving only the positively charged nucleus. This is typically done using a process called ionization, where atoms are subjected to intense electric fields or collisions with other particles, resulting in the removal of one or more electrons.
Once the atoms are ionized, the remaining charged ions can be accelerated in the particle accelerator using the same principles as accelerating individual charged particles. Electric fields or magnetic fields are applied to these ions to accelerate them to high speeds.
Accelerating electrons is comparatively simpler since they are already charged particles. Electrons can be directly accelerated using electric fields in linear accelerators or circular accelerators.
It's worth noting that different types of accelerators are used for different purposes. For example, linear accelerators (linacs) are often used for medical purposes, such as delivering radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Circular accelerators, like synchrotrons, are used in scientific research for studying the properties of matter, conducting particle physics experiments, and producing intense beams of X-rays for various applications.
In summary, particle accelerators can be used to accelerate whole atoms by first ionizing them and then applying electric or magnetic fields to the charged ions. Electrons, being already charged, can be accelerated directly. The specific type of accelerator and ionization methods used depend on the desired application and research goals.