Electron Cyclotron Resonance Accelerator Beam Path Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional equipment for producing energetic charged particles, such as electrons, requires high investment costs and large facilities, limiting mobility and efficiency in applications like medicine, nuclear energy, and experimental research.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electron cyclotron resonance acceleration (eCRA) system that includes an RF cavity with a longitudinal axis, surrounded by an electro-magnet producing an axial magnetic field, and a second electro-magnet generating an inverse cusp to transform transverse momentum into axial momentum, allowing the beam of electrons to transition from a helical orbit to a linear path, enabling more efficient acceleration and beam manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional equipment is used to produce energetic charged particles, then the particles can be generated, but the investment cost and facility size are high, limiting mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the acceleration parameters by using non-linear cyclotron resonance acceleration in an RF cavity, achieving high electron energy (e.g., 10 MeV) with a compact facility size. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing the acceleration process to generate high-power electron beams without requiring large conventional accelerator facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical accelerator systems with a resonant RF cavity system that uses electromagnetic fields for acceleration. This substitution enables compact high-energy electron beam generation, reducing facility size and investment cost while maintaining high power output.
2Power
If conventional accelerators are used, then electron beams can be produced, but mobility is limited due to large facility requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the accelerator system into modular components including an electron source, RF cavity, and magnetic field generation systems. This segmentation enables the high-power electron beam facility to be more compact and potentially mobile, resolving the contradiction between beam power and mobility.
3Power
If standard acceleration methods are used, then electrons can be accelerated, but the beam follows a helical orbit rather than a linear path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies an inverse cusp magnetic field configuration that inverts the conventional cusp field direction. This inversion transforms the helical beam orbit into a linear path by reversing the magnetic field gradient, thereby correcting the beam geometry while maintaining acceleration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the magnetic field parameters by introducing an inverse cusp configuration with specific field gradients. This parameter change converts the helical motion of accelerated electrons into linear motion, improving beam geometry for applications requiring directed electron beams.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in a compact, efficient, and cost-effective method for producing high-energy electron beams, suitable for various applications including wastewater remediation, sterilization, and industrial processes, by overcoming the limitations of conventional accelerators and achieving higher energy levels and beam powers.
Implementation Method 1
the RF cavity is coupled to an RF source and configured to accelerate the beam of electrons axially entering the RF cavity with non-linear cyclotron resonance acceleration
Implementation Method 2
a first electro-magnet substantially surrounding at least a portion of the RF cavity and configured to produce an axial magnetic field
Implementation Method 3
a second electro-magnet located downstream of the one or more outlets of the RF cavity and configured to generate an inverse cusp in the axial magnetic field
Implementation Method 4
the inverse cusp provides a transverse impulse to the beam of electrons that transforms transverse momentum of the electrons into axial momentum
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for accelerating electrons include an electron source configured to provide a beam of electrons and an accelerator that utilizes electron cyclotron resonance acceleration (eCRA). The accelerator includes a radio frequency (RF) cavity having a longitudinal axis, one or more inlets, and one or more outlets and a first electro-magnet substantially surrounding at least a portion of the cavity and configured to produce an axial magnetic field. The RF cavity is coupled to an RF source and configured to accelerate the beam of electrons axially entering the RF cavity with non-linear cyclotron resonance acceleration. A second electro-magnet located downstream of the one or more outlets of the RF cavity is configured to generate an inverse cusp in the axial magnetic field to manipulate the beam of electrons leaving the RF cavity from a helical orbit to a substantially linear path.