Accelerator may refer to:

In science and technology

In computing

Download accelerator A download manager is a type of software that manages the downloading of computer file, files from the Internet, which may be built into a web browser, or as a standalone Application software, program. Functions A download manager manages files ...

, or download manager, software dedicated to downloading *

Hardware acceleration Hardware acceleration is the use of computer hardware designed to perform specific functions more efficiently when compared to software running on a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU). Any transformation of data that can be calcula ...

, the use of dedicated hardware to perform functions faster than a CPU **

Graphics processing unit A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed for digital image processing and to accelerate computer graphics, being present either as a discrete video card or embedded on motherboards, mobile phones, personal ...

or graphics accelerator, a dedicated graphics-rendering device *** Accelerator (library), a library that allows the coding of programs for a graphics processing unit **

Cryptographic accelerator In computing, a cryptographic accelerator is a co-processor designed specifically to perform computationally intensive cryptographic operations, doing so far more efficiently than the general-purpose CPU. Because many servers' system loads consis ...

, performs decrypting/encrypting *

Web accelerator A web accelerator is a proxy server that reduces website access time. They can be a self-contained hardware appliance or installable software. Web accelerators may be installed on the client computer or mobile device, on Internet service provider ...

, a proxy server that speeds web-site access * Accelerator (Internet Explorer), a form of selection-based search * Accelerator table, specifies keyboard shortcuts for commands *

Apple II accelerators Apple II accelerators are computer hardware devices which enable an Apple II computer to operate faster than their intended clock rate. 8-bit accelerators Number Nine Apple Booster – ''Number Nine Computer Corporation (Number Nine Visual ...

, hardware devices designed to speed up an Apple II computer *

PHP accelerator A PHP accelerator is a PHP extension designed to improve the performance of software applications written in the PHP programming language. Operation Most PHP accelerators work by caching the compiled opcode/bytecode Bytecode (also called ...

, speeds up software applications written in the PHP programming language * SAP BI Accelerator, speeds up online analytical processing queries * SSL/TLS accelerator, offloads public-key encryption algorithms to a hardware accelerator * TCP accelerator, intermediate communications processor *

Keyboard shortcut In computing, a keyboard shortcut (also hotkey/hot key or key binding) is a software-based assignment of an action to one or more keys on a computer keyboard. Most Operating system, operating systems and Application software, applications come ...

, a set of key presses that invoke a software or operating system operation * Accelerator or AFU (Accelerator Function Unit): a component of IBM's

Coherent Accelerator Processor Interface Coherent Accelerator Processor Interface (CAPI), is a high-speed processor expansion bus standard for use in large data center computers, initially designed to be layered on top of PCI Express, for directly connecting central processing units (CP ...

(CAPI)

In physics and chemistry

Accelerator (chemistry) Accelerants, or accelerators, are substances that increase the rate of a natural or artificial chemical process. They play a major role in chemistry, as most chemical reactions can be hastened with an accelerant. Understanding accelerants is cr ...

, a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction * Araldite accelerator 062, or Dimethylbenzylamine, an organic compound * Cement accelerator, an admixture that speeds the cure time of concrete *

Particle accelerator A particle accelerator is a machine that uses electromagnetic fields to propel electric charge, charged particles to very high speeds and energies to contain them in well-defined particle beam, beams. Small accelerators are used for fundamental ...

, a device which uses electric and/or magnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds **

Accelerator-driven system A subcritical reactor is a nuclear fission reactor concept that produces fission without achieving criticality. Instead of sustaining a chain reaction, a subcritical reactor uses additional neutrons from an outside source. There are two general c ...

(ADS), a nuclear reactor coupled to a particle accelerator **

Accelerator mass spectrometry Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is a form of mass spectrometry that accelerates ions to extraordinarily high kinetic energies before mass analysis. The special strength of AMS among the different methods of mass spectrometry is its ability t ...

(AMS), a form of mass spectrometry *

Tanning accelerator Sunless tanning refers to the effect of a suntan without exposure to the Sun. Sunless tanning involves the use of oral agents (carotenids), or creams, lotions or sprays applied to the skin. Skin-applied products may be skin-reactive agents or ...

, chemicals that increase the effect of ultraviolet radiation on human skin *

Vulcanizing accelerators Vulcanization (British English: vulcanisation) is a range of processes for hardening rubbers. The term originally referred exclusively to the treatment of natural rubber with sulfur, which remains the most common practice. It has also grown to ...

, chemical agents to speed the vulcanization of rubber

Firearms

* .22 Accelerator or Remington Accelerator, a type of .224 caliber bullet *

Electricothermal accelerator A plasma cannon (also called an electrothermal accelerator) is an experimental projectile weapon, which accelerates a projectile by means of a plasma discharge between electrodes at the rear of the barrel, generating a rapid increase in pressure ...

, a weapon that uses a plasma discharge to accelerate its projectile *

Magnetic accelerator gun A railgun or rail gun, sometimes referred to as a rail cannon, is a linear motor device, typically designed as a ranged weapon, that uses electromagnetic force to launch high-velocity projectiles. The projectile normally does not contain explos ...

, a weapon that converts magnetic energy into kinetic energy for a projectile *

Ram accelerator A ram accelerator is a device for accelerating projectiles or just a single projectile to extremely high speeds using jet-engine-like propulsion cycles based on ramjet or scramjet combustion processes. It is thought to be possible to achieve no ...

, a device for accelerating projectiles using ramjet or scramjet combustion *

Produce accelerators A spud gun or potato gun is a small toy gun used to fire a fragment of potato. To operate, one punctures the surface of a potato with the gun's hollow tip and pries out a small pellet which fits in the muzzle. Squeezing the grip causes a small b ...

, cannons which use air pressure or combustion to launch large projectiles at low speed

Other technologies

*Accelerator, gas pedal or

throttle A throttle is a mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by construction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased. The term ''throttle'' ha ...

, a foot pedal that controls the engine speed of an automobile *

Accelerator Coaster An Accelerator Coaster is a hydraulically launched roller coaster model from Intamin. The model usually consists of a long, straight launch track, a ''top hat'' tower element, and magnetic brakes that smoothly stop the train without making con ...

, a roller coaster that uses hydraulic acceleration

In entertainment

* The Accelerators, US rock band * ''Accelerator'' (Royal Trux album), their seventh studio album, released in 1998 * ''Accelerator'' (The Future Sound of London album), released in 1992 *"Accelerator", a 1993 single by Gumball *"Accelerator", a song by band The O.A.O.T.'s, on their album '' Typical'' *"Accelerator", a song by the band Primal Scream from their album ''

XTRMNTR ''XTRMNTR'' (pronounced "Exterminator") is the sixth studio album by Scottish rock band Primal Scream. It was first released on 31 January 2000 in the United Kingdom by Creation Records and on 2 May 2000 in the United States by Astralwerks. It pe ...

'' *''

XLR8R ''XLR8R'' (pronounced "accelerator") is a website that covers music, culture, style, and technology. It was originally also a print magazine. History and profile ''XLR8R'' was founded as a newsprint zine in 1993 by publisher Andrew Smith in S ...

'' (pronounced "accelerator"), a magazine and website that covers music, culture, style, and technology * Accelerator (''To Aru Majutsu No Index''), a fictional character in the light novel series ''A Certain Magical Index'' and the manga series ''A Certain Scientific Accelerator'' * Accelerator (Universal Studios Singapore), a whirling twirling ride that spins guests around *''

PC Accelerator ''PC Accelerator'' (''PCXL'') was an American personal computer game magazine that was published by Imagine Media (currently a subsidiary of Future plc). It was known for its ''Maxim''-like humor and photography. History and profile ''PC Accele ...

'', a personal computer game magazine * ''The Accelerators'' (comics), a comic book created by Ronnie Porto and Gavin Smith

Other uses

Accelerator pedal Car controls are the components in automobiles and other powered road vehicles, such as trucks and buses, used for driving and parking. While controls like steering wheels and pedals have existed since the invention of cars, other controls have ...

or gas pedal * Seed- or startup-accelerator, an organization that offers advice and resources to help small businesses grow * Accelerator effect, economic stimulus to private fixed investment due to growth in aggregate demand *

Saskatoon Accelerators Saskatoon Accelerators were a professional soccer team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that played in the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League. The team played indoor soccer which is different from the official FIFA indoor game called futsal. Its h ...

, a professional soccer team based in Saskatoon, Canada *

Accelerationism Accelerationism is a range of ideologies that call for the drastic intensification of capitalist growth, technological change, and other processes of social change to destabilize existing systems and create radical social transformations. It is ...

, critical and social theory