Abstract: A linear accelerator has at least one longitudinal stator section that defines a linear path of movement and that comprises several stator coils as well as a rotor with several rotor coils that can be accelerated along the path of movement. The stator is designed as a tubular body from the inner wall of which project coil carriers with coil conductors that are mutually offset by 90 degrees. The cavities thus formed are engaged by the rotor coils that comprise each an electrically non-conductive carrier on the sides on which are arranged meandering coil conductors. The design and arrangement of the rotor coils and stator coils allow a circular magnetic field to be generated, with the result that the rotor is axially accelerated. The rotor is supplied with current by conductor rails by a cable entrained with the rotor an/or by charge accumulation in the coils before acceleration begins.