A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses electric and magnetic fields to accelerate charged particles in a spiral path. It consists of two "D"-shaped electrodes called "dees" located between the poles of a magnet. As the polarity of the electric field alternates between the dees, particles gain kinetic energy on each orbit until they are ejected at high speeds. Cyclotrons are commonly used to produce radioactive isotopes for medical imaging and diagnosis.