Adjusting energy of a particle beam

Abstract

An example particle accelerator includes a coil to provide a magnetic field to a cavity; a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity; a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column, where the magnetic field causes particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an enclosure containing an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a structure arranged proximate to the extraction channel to change an energy level of the received particles.

Description

[0001] Cross reference related applications [0002] Priority is hereby claimed to US Provisional Application No. 61 / 707,515, filed September 28, 2012. The contents of this US Provisional Application No. 61 / 707,515 are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure. technical field [0003] This disclosure generally relates to energy modulation of particle beams, such as proton or ion beams, for use in particle therapy systems. Background technique [0004] Particle therapy systems use accelerators to generate beams of particles that are used to treat diseases, such as tumors. In operation, a particle beam is accelerated within the cavity of the particle accelerator and removed from the cavity through an extraction channel. In order to track the extraction channel, the particle beam must be properly energized. Insufficient energy, the particle beam collides with the inner edge of the exit channel. Too much energy and the particle beam collides with the outer edge ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The result is that the particle beam is prevented from escaping from the exit channel, or the portion of the particle beam that does escape is compromised, thereby reducing the therapeutic effect

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