ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the basic terms related to accelerators, and describes the framework and methods of the theory of inventive problem solving. Accelerators are essential for science and society, they are in use in high energy physics, nuclear physics, healthcare and life science. The simplest accelerating mechanism is electrostatic direct acceleration, caused by DC voltage and a corresponding electric field. The history of accelerators and various accelerator technologies can be summarized in a so-called "Livingston plot" where the equivalent energy of an accelerated beam is plotted against time. From 1928 to 1932, Cockcroft and Walton developed electrostatic acceleration using voltage multiplication created out of diodes and oscillating voltage. At about the same time, Van der Graaf created a method of voltage charging wherein a rubber mechanical belt would carry charges deposited onto the belt by sharp needles via the ionization of gas molecules. The chapter also discusses the characteristics of Theory of Inventive Problem Solving.
