System, apparatus and method for deflecting a particle beam

Abstract

A variety of systems, apparatus and methods for deflecting a particle beam are described. An apparatus comprises at least six electromagnetic portions disposed on a plane. Each of the at least six electromagnetic portions is aligned with a radius emanating from an axis normal to the plane and is distanced from the axis to form a volume about the axis. At least six coils are configured for affecting a dipole magnetic field in the volume in response to electrical currents applied to physically opposing coils where a particle beam entering the volume is deflected. Each of the at least six coils is disposed about a one of the at least six electromagnetic portions. A yoke structure is configured for returning a generated magnetic flux.

Description

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0001]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX[0002]Not applicable.COPYRIGHT NOTICE[0003]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention relates generally to implementations of electromagnetic apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to delivering a charged particle beam to arbitrary points in a region, such as for particle therapy in medical applications.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]Many applications, including medical therapy and diagnostics, semiconductor processing and industrial radiography require beams of particles to ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

These electromagnets should not occupy excessive space in the trajectory of the beam, as this may translate into a larger system, potentially higher costs, and may preclude the installation of systems in some locations.

Furthermore, beam aberrations introduced by the electromagnetic portions may be considered small.

The increased air gap and increased amp-turns may result in more complexity for planning the map of potential beam positions due to differing speed of response of the in the horizontal and vertical axes.

A square configuration for the electromagnetic portions is common, as other structures and configurations may result in a poor quality dipole magnetic field associated with the central axis and may also result in large pole spacing.

However, even a square configuration for the superimposed dipole may result in a magnetic field which may be of considerably less quality than realized with equivalent separate dipoles as illustrated with reference to FIG. 1.

Furthermore, as a result of the less quality magnetic field generated by the superimposed dipole, beam aberrations may be experienced.

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