Applications of linear accelerators

Recently the possible applications of linear accelerators have dramatically diversified with several new uses for linacs in applied physics and the commercial section being pursued very actively. A review is given of some applications in which linear accelerators are used today, and some of the possibilities which these scientific tools have for the near future. The presentation is broken down into several subdisciplines of applications: (1) medicine; (2) radiography; (3) nuclear fuel breeding; (4) radiation damage neutron source; (5) heavy ion fusion; and (6) other possibilities.