Gas target system for radioisotope generation

By designing a compact gas target system, combining a truncated conical chamber, cooling circuit, and efficient cooling structure, the problems of large space occupation and low cooling efficiency of existing target systems have been solved, achieving a compact and efficient production of radioactive isotopes and radiation protection equipment.

CN121310380APending Publication Date: 2026-01-09PMB
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202511404855.5
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2016-12-22
Filing Date
2017-12-19
Publication Date
2026-01-09

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing target systems suffer from problems such as large space occupation, low cooling efficiency, and poor stability under pressure when generating radioactive isotopes, resulting in insufficient compactness and efficiency of radiation protection equipment.

Method used

A gas target system was designed, including a truncated conical chamber, a cooling circuit, a proton-permeable window, and a flange support. Through a compact structural design and an efficient cooling circuit, stable irradiation of the gas target and efficient production of radioactive isotopes are achieved.

Benefits of technology

This enables efficient production of radioactive isotopes in a compact space, improves system stability and cooling efficiency, and enhances the compactness and efficiency of radiation protection equipment.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN121310380A_ABST
    Figure CN121310380A_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present application relates to a gas target system (100) having: a body (110) having a frustoconical chamber; a cooling circuit having at least one channel surrounding at least a portion of the chamber; a window positioned facing the inlet of the chamber to enclose the chamber, the window having a thin plate that is transparent to at least a portion of the particle beam emitted by the particle accelerator and a support grid configured to withstand a pressure difference between an interior of the chamber and an exterior of the gas target system (100), the thin plate positioned between the support grid and the chamber (120); and a flange support (160) holding the window, sealingly secured to the body, having a mechanical fastening interface for fastening to an outlet of a particle accelerator (170).
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application entitled "Gas Target System for Generating Radioactive Isotopes", with an international application date of December 19, 2017, international application number PCT / FR2017 / 053679, and national application number 201780079376.8. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to a target system for producing radioactive isotopes by irradiating a gaseous target fluid under pressure with a charged particle beam, particularly a high-energy particle beam of at least 1 megaelectron volt (MeV). Background Technology

[0003] For example, in nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging technique that requires positron-emitting radioactive isotopes or molecules traced by these same radioactive isotopes.

[0004] To produce radioactive isotopes, the target system is installed at the output of the particle accelerator.

[0005] A target system may have one or more targets to be irradiated. Each target has a radioactive isotope precursor that, when irradiated, produces a corresponding radioactive isotope. Therefore, the target system is mounted at the output of a particle accelerator, with the targets positioned along the axis of the particle beam emitted by the accelerator. Thus, the particle beam generated by the particle accelerator can irradiate the targets of the target system to produce radioactive isotopes.

[0006] However, existing target systems have different drawbacks. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The subject of this application is to propose an improved gas target system that also offers other advantages.

[0008] Therefore, a gas target system is first proposed, which has the following characteristics:

[0009] -The main body, which has:

[0010] -- A chamber configured to contain target gas irradiated by a particle beam emitted by a particle accelerator to be used, the chamber having at least a truncated conical section, a base that closes the base of the truncated conical section, and an opening that is opposite to the base relative to the truncated conical section and forms an entrance so that at least a portion of the particle beam enters the chamber.

[0011] - Cooling circuit, the cooling circuit having at least one channel having an inlet and an outlet and surrounding at least a portion of the chamber, the channel being positioned as close as possible to the portion heated by the interaction of the particle beam with the gas contained in the chamber, i.e., for example a surface of the chamber and the window portion described below.

[0012] - A window, positioned facing the entrance of the chamber to seal the chamber, is proton-permeable to allow protons from a particle beam emitted by the particle accelerator to be introduced into the chamber. The window has a thin plate and a support grid, the thin plate being permeable to at least a portion of the particle beam emitted by the particle accelerator, the support grid being configured to withstand the pressure difference between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the gas target system, the thin plate being positioned between the support grid and the chamber; and

[0013] - A flange support, which holds the window portion and is sealed to the body, has a mechanical fastening interface for fastening to the output end of the particle accelerator; the flange support is also configured to seal the chamber and, at least on the one hand, ensure the seal between the external air of the gas target system and the cooling fluid circulating in the cooling circuit, and on the other hand, ensure the seal between the vacuum formed in the particle beam line of the particle accelerator and the target gas under pressure contained in the chamber.

[0014] Therefore, this target system for generating gaseous radioactive isotopes, having such a chamber for receiving the target gas and being adequately cooled by means of such a cooling circuit, allows the desired nuclear reaction to take place between the target gas and the incident protons in a relatively compact space.

[0015] In particular, the cooling circuit is, for example, the only circuit used to simultaneously cool the chamber and at least the thin plate of the window.

[0016] This gas target system for producing radioactive isotopes also allows for more stable production of radioactive isotopes, and can be used at higher pressures than usual, especially with the help of an improved cooling circuit.

[0017] The length of the chamber, i.e. the distance between the base of the chamber and the entrance, can thus be shortened, while having an "inverted cone" shape that takes into account the scattering phenomenon of the proton beam when it collides with the target gas.

[0018] However, this reduction in length depends on the pressure differential. In one embodiment, by halving the length, i.e., from about 180 mm to about 90 mm, the pressure can be doubled, for example.

[0019] Therefore, the system is more compact than existing systems, thereby increasing the efficiency of radiation protection equipment because it allows these devices to be positioned as close as possible to the nuclear reaction zone, and if necessary, the thickness of the materials constituting these devices can be increased for the same external volume.

[0020] In one embodiment, the target system uses a beam of charged particles emitted from a particle accelerator to irradiate target gas to produce radioactive isotopes. 11 C's target system.

[0021] Preferably, the chamber is configured to have a target gas under pressure, said pressure being between about 15 bar (1.5 MPa) and about 50 bar (5 MPa), or even between about 20 bar (2 MPa) and about 50 bar, or even between about 40 bar (4 MPa) and about 50 bar.

[0022] A target gas pressure of at least 40 bar can significantly reduce the chamber depth required to trap the particle beam.

[0023] In one embodiment, the target gas in the chamber has at least one radioactive isotope. 11 C (carbon-11) precursor.

[0024] Preferably, the at least one radioactive isotope 11 The C precursor contains nitrogen gas ( 14 N).

[0025] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the window portion has a brazed fitting consisting of a thin plate and a support grid. The thin plate is positioned at the chamber inlet to allow charged particles to enter the chamber. The support grid has openings and serves as a structural support for the thin plate. It is configured to withstand the pressure difference generated on both sides of the window portion during system operation, namely the pressure difference between the vacuum of the particle accelerator and the pressure of the gas filling the chamber.

[0026] Support grids, for example, have equidistant openings and / or hexagonal openings, such as honeycomb openings.

[0027] The void / material area ratio of the support grid is, for example, between about 70% and about 90%, preferably between about 72% and about 85%.

[0028] The support grid is made of, for example, tungsten or aluminum nitride.

[0029] The thickness of the support grid is, for example, about 1 mm to about 3 mm.

[0030] The sheet thickness is small, that is, depending on the material used, the sheet thickness is equal to or less than 100 micrometers, or even 80 micrometers, or even 30 micrometers, or even 20 micrometers.

[0031] The thin plate is made of tungsten, for example; thus its thickness is, for example, between about 20 micrometers and about 30 micrometers.

[0032] According to another embodiment, the sheet is made of CVD ("Chemical Vapor Deposition") synthetic diamond, that is, synthetic diamond obtained by chemical vapor deposition process; thus its thickness is, for example, between about 70 micrometers and about 80 micrometers.

[0033] For example, cooling circuit channels are formed in the walls of the main body.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the cooling circuit channel has at least one helical portion that surrounds at least a portion of the chamber.

[0035] For example, the spiral portion extends from the entrance of the channel, surrounds at least a portion of the chamber to the base of the chamber, and then from the base surrounds at least a portion of the chamber to the exit of the channel.

[0036] In one embodiment, the body has a front surface that forms a support surface for at least a portion of the thin plate of the window.

[0037] In one particular embodiment, the inlet and outlet of the guide channel both lead to the front surface of the body.

[0038] In an advantageous embodiment, the body has a recess in the front surface of the body, the recess at least partially surrounding the inlet of the chamber; the recess forms part of a cooling circuit.

[0039] Therefore, during the process of irradiating the target gas contained in the irradiation chamber, the cooling circuit allows for limiting not only the heat generation of the target gas contained in the chamber, but also the heat generation of the window.

[0040] For example, the inlet and outlet of the guide channel lead to the groove.

[0041] The cooling circuit is, for example, a non-cryogenic circuit. It contains, for example, a cooling liquid, such as cooling water, circulating in the circuit.

[0042] For example, the cooling circuit has a cooling fluid inlet near the chamber opening.

[0043] In one embodiment, the cooling fluid inlet has a pipe communicating with a guide channel.

[0044] For example, the cooling fluid inlet is configured such that the cooling fluid circulates on the one hand in a spiral portion of a guide channel surrounding a chamber configured to contain the irradiated gas, and on the other hand in a groove positioned around the periphery of the window.

[0045] In another embodiment, the cooling circuit also has a cooling fluid outlet.

[0046] The cooling fluid outlet is located, for example, next to the cooling fluid inlet.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the cooling fluid inlet and / or outlet communicates with the guide channel between the spiral portion of the groove and the guide channel.

[0048] Preferably, the front surface of the main body is orthogonal to the central axis of the truncated conical section of the chamber and / or the diffusion axis of the particle beam emitted by the particle accelerator.

[0049] The flange support forms a mechanical connection interface, which, for example, through the compression of a sealing ring such as an O-ring, allows for the simultaneous maintenance of the seal between the window and the interfaces between the cooling liquid, ambient air, the secondary vacuum (of the particle accelerator), and the target gas (of the chamber).

[0050] For example, the sealing ring is positioned between one surface of the flange support and the corresponding surface of the body.

[0051] In one particular embodiment, the mechanical fastening interface of the flange support for fastening to the particle accelerator output is configured to maintain the airtightness of the particle beam line vacuum.

[0052] Mechanical fastening interfaces for securing to the particle accelerator output include, for example, rings and seals such as O-rings. The rings and seals are, for example, held within a flange support.

[0053] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the window is inserted between the body and a flange support, for example, the flange support being secured to the body with screws. This allows for easy removal and / or reinstallation of the window, replacing it, for example, by simply loosening and / or tightening at least a portion of the flange support using fastening screws, such as four screws.

[0054] For example, the front surface of the body has a sealing ring, such as an O-ring, and / or the flange support has a sealing ring, such as an O-ring, which can be positioned facing the sealing ring on the front surface of the body.

[0055] If necessary, at least the thin plate should be wedged and pressed between the sealing ring of the main body and the sealing ring of the flange support.

[0056] When the system is installed on a particle accelerator, this can, for example, improve the sealing between the cooling circuit, the target gas, and the vacuum on the particle accelerator side.

[0057] In one embodiment, the body has a channel extending through the base of the chamber into the chamber, the channel being configured to fill the chamber with gas and vent the gas from the chamber.

[0058] In another embodiment, the base of the chamber has a concave surface. The surface is, for example, concave circular.

[0059] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the body is made of aluminum alloy AS7G6.

[0060] In another particularly advantageous embodiment, the body is made using an additive manufacturing process, such as selective laser melting (SLM).

[0061] Therefore, it is particularly easy to integrate the cooling circuit into the main body wall, for example, in at least some parts of the cooling fluid circulation channel closest to the window and / or the inner surface of the main body (i.e., the chamber wall), and / or it is easy to change the shape of the tube, for example, between a circular cross section and a rectangular cross section, to optimize heat exchange.

[0062] For example, the target system can be housed within a maximum volume of approximately 50 x 63 x 120 mm. Attached Figure Description

[0063] According to one embodiment, the invention will become clearly understood, and its advantages will become better apparent from the following detailed description, given in an illustrative and non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0064] Figure 1 A target system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view.

[0065] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the system shown along a vertical plane (not shown).

[0066] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and 2 The decomposition diagram of the system shown, and

[0067] Figure 4 for Figures 1 to 3 The application example of the system shown illustrates an example of a temperature field (target heating) obtained by digital simulation in degrees Celsius (°C). Detailed Implementation

[0068] The same components shown in the aforementioned figures are labeled with the same numerical designations.

[0069] Figures 1 to 4 A gas target system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0070] Reference Figure 1 and 2 Here, the gas target system 100 has:

[0071] -Main body 110, the main body has:

[0072] --Cavity 120, configured to contain target gas irradiated by a particle beam F emitted by a particle accelerator to be used (not shown), the chamber 120 having at least a truncated conical section 121, a base 122 that closes the base of the truncated conical section 121, and an opening 112 that is opposite to the base 122 relative to the truncated conical section 121 and forms an entrance so that at least a portion of the particle beam F enters the chamber 120;

[0073] - Cooling circuit 130, the cooling circuit having at least one guide 140, the guide having an inlet 141 and an outlet 142 and surrounding at least a portion of the chamber 120;

[0074] - A window 150, positioned facing the entrance 112 of chamber 120 to enclose the chamber, is proton-permeable to allow protons from a particle beam F emitted by the particle accelerator to be introduced into the chamber. The window 150 has a thin plate 151 and a support grid 152, the thin plate being permeable to at least a portion of the particle beam F emitted by the particle accelerator, the support grid 152 being configured to withstand the pressure difference between the interior of chamber 120 and the exterior of the gas target system 100, the thin plate 151 being positioned between the support grid 152 and chamber 120; and

[0075] - A flange support 160, which holds a window 150, is sealed to the body 110 and has a mechanical fastening interface for fastening to the output end of the particle accelerator 170; the flange support 160 is also configured to seal the chamber 120, for example by means of a dedicated flange 180, and to at least on the one hand ensure the airtightness between the external air of the gas target system and the cooling fluid circulating in the cooling circuit 130, and on the other hand ensure the airtightness between the vacuum formed in the particle beam line of the particle accelerator and the target gas under pressure contained in the chamber 120.

[0076] This gas target system has a particularly compact structure, as can be seen in the figure.

[0077] This system is particularly useful for producing radioactive isotopes, for example 11 C.

[0078] The main body is, for example, a whole component.

[0079] For example, the body is made of aluminum alloy AS7G6, particularly by additive manufacturing processes such as selective laser melting (SLM), which allows for the simultaneous fabrication of its chamber 120 and cooling circuit, which, advantageously, is formed inside the walls of the body, as described later.

[0080] In fact, the main body 110 has a wall 111 here.

[0081] The wall 111 defines the chamber 120, and here the wall also has at least a portion of a cooling circuit in its thickness.

[0082] At the front, here on the left in the attached drawing, the body 110 has a flange 180, which has a front surface 181.

[0083] In this embodiment, the flange 180 particularly has a protrusion having a front surface 181 and a peripheral surface defining the periphery of the protrusion, wherein the peripheral surface is orthogonal to the front surface 181.

[0084] Here, the cross-section of flange 180 is basically quadrilateral, or even square, such as... Figure 3 To show more clearly.

[0085] Flange 180 has four holes 185. Each hole 185 receives a bolt 186, which allows the body 110 to be assembled with the flange support 160.

[0086] Starting from the front surface 181, the body has an opening 112 from which a chamber 120 extends.

[0087] The body 110 has a groove 182, which forms part of a cooling circuit, and the groove is formed in the front surface 181 surrounding at least a portion of the opening 112. However, the groove 182 preferably has an annular shape and surrounds the opening 112.

[0088] Therefore, the recess 182 allows cooling of the window 150, at least a portion of which is abutted against the front surface 181, as described later.

[0089] In this embodiment, the inlet 141 and outlet 142 of the guide 140 connect to the groove 182, which is why Figure 2 The entrance and exit are indicated together.

[0090] Additionally, here, between the recess 182 and the opening 112, the main body also has a groove 183, which is formed in the front surface 181 to receive a sealing ring 184. The sealing ring 184 here serves to support the thin plate 151 of the window portion 150, thereby facilitating the formation of a sealed connection.

[0091] Finally, flange 180 also has a cooling fluid inlet 187 and an outlet 188, for the cooling liquid to enter the cooling circuit 130 and to exit the cooling circuit 130, respectively.

[0092] In the illustrated embodiment, inlet 187 and outlet 188 are of course shown arbitrarily and can obviously be reversed relative to each other.

[0093] Here, the inlet and outlet have, for example, joints with corresponding hoses.

[0094] Inlet 187 and / or outlet 188, for example, have pipes that communicate with a guide channel, not shown in the attached drawings.

[0095] In particular, inlet 187 and outlet 188 are connected to guide channel 140 after inlet 141 and outlet 142, where inlet 141 and outlet 142 lead to recess 182 (here, "after" should be understood as relative to the introduction of particle beam F into the chamber).

[0096] According to another embodiment, inlet 141 and inlet 187 coincide, and / or outlet 142 and outlet 188 coincide.

[0097] Starting from flange 180, body 110 then has a main portion 190, which has the majority of the chamber 120. The main portion 190 is, for example, cylindrical, or here particularly a truncated conical portion, which has at least a truncated conical section 121 of the chamber 120.

[0098] Therefore, the main part 190 of the frustoconical body 110 expands from the flange 180, just as the chamber 120 expands from the opening 112 of the body, and the opening 112 also forms the entrance opening 112 of the chamber 120.

[0099] Therefore, the diameter of the circular opening 112 is smaller than the diameter of the entire circular cross-section of the truncated conical section 121 of the chamber.

[0100] Therefore, during operation, the particle beam F can be introduced into the chamber 120 through the opening 112 to irradiate the gas contained in the chamber.

[0101] Finally, the main body is closed by the base 191, which has a base 122 with a chamber 120.

[0102] The base 122 of the chamber 120 is, for example, a concave circular surface, or a dome shape.

[0103] Therefore, the chamber has a teardrop shape starting from the opening 112. The cross-section of the chamber increases from the opening 112 to the base 122 (at the base, its cross-section decreases due to its circular shape).

[0104] The base 191 of the main body 110 also has a dedicated channel that passes through the main body wall and leads to the chamber 120. The gas target system 100 has a connection end 192, such as a conventional 1 / 16" connector, which is introduced into the dedicated channel to fill or evacuate the chamber 120 with target gas.

[0105] As previously described, the chamber 120 is formed inside the body 110 and is surrounded by walls 111.

[0106] In the wall 111 of the main body 110, mainly in the portion of the wall 111 surrounding the chamber 120, the main body 110 has a guide 140 for the cooling circuit 130.

[0107] Here, the guide 140 has a spiral portion that begins at the flange 180 of the main body and extends towards the rear of the main body to the base 191 of the main body, returning to the front of the main body, i.e., back to the flange 180. The guide 140 continues between the inlet 141 and outlet 142 in the spiral portion leading to the groove 182 of the flange 180 of the main body 110.

[0108] Here, the guide 140 is supplied with cooling fluid through the inlet 187 and the outlet 188, which are connected to the guide 140 inlet 141 and outlet 142 on the front surface 181 of the main body on one side, and the spiral portion of the guide 140 on the other side.

[0109] Therefore, the guide 140 surrounds the chamber 120 and is positioned as close as possible to the portion heated by the interaction between the particle beam F and the gas contained in the chamber 120, namely, the chamber surface (i.e., the inner surface of the body) and the window 150.

[0110] As previously described, the gas target system 100 also has a window 150, which has a thin plate 151 and a support grid 152.

[0111] The window allows protons to enter the chamber simultaneously and seals the chamber with the help of the flange support 160 as described later.

[0112] To facilitate the positioning of the window 150, the front surface 181 may have a recess, and the window 150 may be arranged in the recess.

[0113] Preferably, the window is held on the body 110 by means of a flange support 160, which helps to hold the window against the front surface 181 of the body, and the air / secondary vacuum / cooling fluid / target gas seal is ensured by using a sealing ring at the interface.

[0114] The support grid 152 can hold the plate 151 in order to withstand the pressure difference between the incident portion of the particle beam F, which is under a secondary vacuum (support grid side) when the system 100 is in use, and the chamber 120 (plate side), which is under a gas pressure of, for example, between 20 and 50 bar.

[0115] A thin plate 151 is positioned between the support grille 152 and the front surface 181 of the body 110. Here, the thin plate 151 covers at least a portion of the front surface 181, and in particular at least covers the groove 182, so that the thin plate can be cooled by the same cooling circuit 130 as the cooling circuit of the chamber 120, wherein the groove at least partially surrounds the opening 112 of the chamber 120.

[0116] Therefore, here, the thin plate simultaneously covers the opening 112 and the groove 182 and abuts against the sealing ring 184 located between the opening 112 and the groove 182.

[0117] The support grid 152 is made of, for example, tungsten or aluminum nitride, and its thickness is, for example, between about 1 mm and about 3 mm.

[0118] The support grid 152 has, for example, circular or hexagonal openings.

[0119] The 151 thin plate has a small thickness, that is, its thickness is equal to or less than 100 micrometers.

[0120] For example, a thin plate made of tungsten has a thickness of about 20 micrometers to about 30 micrometers; while a thin plate made of CVD-polymerized diamond has a thickness of about 70 micrometers to about 80 micrometers.

[0121] Finally, the gas target system 100 has a flange support 160.

[0122] The flange support 160 is, for example, a single piece, where its cross-section is essentially quadrilateral, and in particular square.

[0123] Here, the flange support has holes 161 facing holes 185 of the flange 180 for receiving bolts 186, which help to fasten the flange support 160 to the flange 180 of the body.

[0124] The flange support 160 has a groove 162 in the rear surface of the flange support 160 to receive the sealing ring 163.

[0125] Therefore, in this embodiment, the sealing ring 163 of the flange support 160 faces the sealing ring 184 of the body 110. As a result, the window portion 150 is snapped and wedged between the sealing ring 163 of the flange support 160 and the sealing ring 184 of the body 110.

[0126] To further ensure the sealing of the cooling circuit, the flange support 160 also has a groove 164 that receives a sealing ring 165.

[0127] Here, the groove 164 is formed in the peripheral wall, which is perpendicular to the rear surface of the flange support 160, which is recessed into the flange support 160. Therefore, the sealing ring 165 surrounds the rear surface of the flange support 160.

[0128] Therefore, the peripheral wall of the flange support 160 mates with the peripheral surface of the protrusion of the flange 180 of the body 110.

[0129] Therefore, the sealing ring 165 is positioned between the peripheral wall of the rear surface of the flange support 160 and the peripheral surface of the protrusion of the flange 180 of the body 110.

[0130] Therefore, a flange 180 with a sealing ring 165 surrounding and tightly enclosing the body 110 can also be considered.

[0131] Therefore, the sealing rings 163 and 165 of the flange support 160 are arranged on both sides of the groove 182 of the flange 180 of the main body.

[0132] Therefore, the flange support 160 is configured, for example, to seal the enclosed chamber 120 by engaging with the flange 180 of the body 110, thereby ensuring, at least on the one hand, the air outside the target system and the cooling fluid circulating in the cooling circuit 130, and on the other hand, the vacuum formed in the particle beam line of the particle accelerator when the system 100 is in use and the target gas under pressure contained in the chamber 120.

[0133] Finally, the flange support 160 has a mechanical fastening interface for securing to the output end of the particle accelerator 170.

[0134] In this embodiment, the mechanical fastening interface for securing to the output end of the particle accelerator 170 has at least a ring 171 and an O-ring 172.

[0135] In particular, the ring 171 and the O-ring 172 are fitted into the flange support 160.

[0136] For this purpose, the flange support 160 has a groove 166 on its front surface, which defines a central post 167.

[0137] Ring 171 is pressed into groove 166, and O-ring 172 tightly surrounds central post 167.

[0138] Finally, the flange support 160 has, for example, an electronic target identification coding center 168, which is, for example, an electronic component configured to identify the target.

[0139] Here, the electronic target identification coding center 168 is inserted into a slot arranged at one corner of the front surface of the flange support 160 for this purpose, and is fixed thereto, for example, by a detachable fastener such as a screw.

[0140] Figure 4 It can be observed that, during operation, the aforementioned gas target system 100 has a maximum heat generation at the window 150 below 515°C, particularly about 478-512°C, while the outer surface and casing of the system 100 are maintained at a temperature below about 85°C, particularly between about 51°C and about 84°C. As for one surface of the chamber 120, this surface is maintained by the cooling system at a temperature below about 249°C, or even below about 200°C.

Claims

1. A gas target system (100), comprising: -The main body (110), the main body has: -- A chamber (120) configured to contain target gas irradiated by a particle beam (F) emitted by a particle accelerator to be used, the chamber (120) having at least a truncated conical section (121), a base (122) that closes the base of the truncated conical section, and an opening (112) that is opposite to the base relative to the truncated conical section and forms an entrance so that at least a portion of the particle beam enters the chamber; - Cooling circuit (130), the cooling circuit having at least one channel (140), the channel having an inlet (141) and an outlet (142) and surrounding at least a portion of the chamber (120); - A window (150) positioned facing the entrance of the chamber to seal the chamber, the window being proton-permeable to allow protons from a particle beam (F) emitted by the particle accelerator to be introduced into the chamber, the window having a thin plate (151) and a support grid (152), the thin plate being permeable to at least a portion of the particle beam (F) emitted by the particle accelerator, the support grid (152) being configured to withstand the pressure difference between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the gas target system, the thin plate (151) being positioned between the support grid (152) and the chamber (120); and - A flange support (160) holding a window (150) is hermetically fixed to the body (110) and has a mechanical fastening interface for fastening to the output end of the particle accelerator (170); the flange support (160) is also configured to hermetically close the chamber (120) and, on the one hand, ensure the sealing between the external air of the gas target system and the cooling fluid circulating in the cooling circuit (130), and on the other hand, ensure the sealing between the vacuum formed in the particle beam line of the particle accelerator and the target gas under pressure contained in the chamber (120).

2. The gas target system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling circuit channel (140) is formed in the wall (111) of the main body.

3. The gas target system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cooling circuit guide (140) has at least one spiral portion surrounding at least a portion of the chamber (120).

4. The gas target system (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The spiral portion extends from the inlet (141) of the channel, surrounds at least a portion of the chamber (120) to the base (122) of the chamber, and then from the base (122) surrounds at least a portion of the chamber (120) to the outlet (142) of the channel.

5. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The void / material area ratio of the support grid (152) is between about 70% and about 90%.

6. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The support grid (152) is made of tungsten or aluminum nitride.

7. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The thickness of the support grid (152) is between about 1 mm and about 3 mm.

8. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The thickness of the thin plate (151) is equal to or less than 100 micrometers, or even 80 micrometers, 30 micrometers, or even 20 micrometers.

9. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The thin plate (151) is made of tungsten or synthetic diamond.

10. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The main body (110) has a front surface (181) which forms a support surface for at least a portion of the thin plate (151) of the window portion (150).

11. The gas target system (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The body (110) has a groove (182) in the front surface (181) and the groove at least partially surrounds the entrance of the chamber; the groove (182) forms part of the cooling circuit (130).

12. The gas target system (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The inlet (141) and outlet (142) of the guide channel (140) both lead to the groove (182).

13. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The window (150) is inserted between the main body (110) and the flange support (160).

14. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The base (122) of the chamber has a concave surface.

15. The gas target system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, The main body is made of aluminum alloy AS7G6 and / or using additive manufacturing processes.