A particle accelerator is a machine that uses electromagnetic fields to accelerate subatomic particles to very high speeds. These particles are then collided with each other or with stationary targets to create high-energy interactions that can reveal fundamental properties of matter. One example of an application of discoveries made with particle accelerators is the development of new medical imaging techniques like positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which use particles produced in accelerators to create detailed images of the body's internal structures.
