Interrupted Plasma Column Housing in Synchrocyclotron
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particle accelerators face challenges in efficiently accelerating charged particles to high energies due to relativistic mass effects, which require adjustments in magnetic and electric fields, and existing cyclotrons have limitations in maintaining proper acceleration and focusing as particles spiral outward in strong magnetic fields.
Innovation Solution
A synchrocyclotron design featuring a magnetic field above 2 Tesla, a plasma column generated by cold cathodes, and a tunable resonant circuit with a stop to block certain phases, allowing for efficient acceleration of particles by varying the RF voltage and magnetic field to match relativistic mass increases and maintain beam focus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a strong magnetic field is used to accelerate particles to high energies, then the energy level of particles increases, but the relativistic mass increase causes phase mismatch at the acceleration gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the magnetic field strength variable rather than constant. The magnetic field is increased progressively as particles spiral outward, which compensates for the relativistic mass increase and maintains the phase relationship between particles and the accelerating electric field. This dynamic adjustment resolves the phase mismatch problem that would otherwise occur at high energies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of magnetic field strength from a fixed value to a variable parameter that increases with radius. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to relativistic effects, maintaining proper acceleration conditions even as particle energy increases and relativistic mass effects become significant.
2Reliability
If the housing encloses the plasma column completely, then particle generation is stable, but particles may contact the housing and be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the housing by introducing an interruption or gap in the housing structure at the acceleration region. This segmentation allows particles to be accelerated outward through the gap without contacting the housing, while the remaining enclosed portions of the housing continue to provide stable particle generation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes a portion of the housing at the acceleration region to create an open path for particle acceleration. This removal prevents particle-housing contact and loss while maintaining the enclosed structure where it is needed for stable plasma column generation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If RF voltage is applied to accelerate particles, then particle energy increases, but power requirements and cooling needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic adjustment of the magnetic field to improve acceleration efficiency. By optimizing the magnetic field strength at different radii, the system achieves better phase matching and more efficient energy transfer from the RF voltage to the particles, reducing the overall power requirements and associated cooling needs.
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
The design enables effective acceleration of particles with increased energy and reduced power requirements, improved beam focus, and reduced risk of particles contacting the housing by interrupting the plasma column housing and using lower RF fields, enhancing acceleration efficiency and reducing system cooling needs.
Implementation Method 1
A voltage source is configured to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column at the acceleration region
Implementation Method 2
The magnetic field may be above 2 Tesla (T), and the particles may accelerate from the plasma column outwardly in spirals with radii that progressively increase
Implementation Method 3
The cathodes may be operable to pulse a voltage to ionize gas to generate the plasma column
Data Source
AI summary
A synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures to provide a magnetic field to a cavity, a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity, where the particle source has a housing to hold the plasma column, and where the housing is interrupted at an acceleration region to expose the plasma column, and a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column at the acceleration region.