Linear Accelerator Timing Control for Charged Particle Beam Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operation cycle of conventional injection linear accelerators is fixed, limiting the flexibility of charged particle beam injection timing, which increases irradiation time and patient burden due to waiting periods, and instability occurs when attempting to vary the cycle for more efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A pretrigger timing signal is used to adjust the operation cycle of the linear accelerator after the extraction process, allowing for arbitrary injection timing into the circular accelerator without reducing the minimum operation cycle, thus matching the injection timing requested by the circular accelerator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operation cycle of the linear accelerator is fixed to maintain stable RF power supply operation, then device stability is improved, but irradiation time increases due to waiting periods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a pre-trigger signal that is output in advance before the extraction timing to notify the linear accelerator of the upcoming beam injection requirement. This preliminary notification allows the linear accelerator to prepare and adjust its operation timing proactively, enabling arbitrary injection timing without compromising the stability of RF power supply operation. The pre-trigger mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing time-flexible scheduling while maintaining operational stability through advance preparation.
2Loss of time
If the operation cycle of the linear accelerator is varied to reduce waiting time, then irradiation time is reduced, but operational stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables dynamic adjustment of the linear accelerator's operation timing while maintaining overall system stability. The pre-trigger signal mechanism allows the linear accelerator to flexibly vary its operation cycle according to the circular accelerator's injection timing requirements, rather than being constrained by a fixed cycle. This dynamic timing adjustment eliminates waiting periods while preserving operational stability through the coordinated control system that responds to pre-trigger notifications.
3Reliability
If the linear accelerator operates in a fixed cycle to protect devices from thermal overload, then device protection is improved, but beam injection flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-trigger signal provides advance notification to the linear accelerator about upcoming beam injection requirements, allowing the system to dynamically adjust its operation timing within safe thermal limits. This preliminary action enables the linear accelerator to optimize its operation cycle for each injection event, achieving arbitrary injection timing flexibility while maintaining device protection through controlled thermal management. The system can adapt its timing without compromising device safety because the pre-trigger mechanism ensures proper preparation and cooling cycles are maintained.
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 enables efficient injection of charged particle beams at arbitrary timings, reducing irradiation time and therapy duration while maintaining stable operation of the linear accelerator, thereby improving the system's operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A pretrigger timing signal that notifies the linear accelerator of a requested injection timing after completion of the extraction process is provided for timing control
Implementation Method 2
A radio frequency voltage is conventionally used to accelerate the injection linear accelerator provided for the circular accelerator for particle beam therapy
Implementation Method 3
The circular accelerator which has received the charged particle further accelerates the charged particles until the charged particles have higher energy
Data Source
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AI summary
A charged particle beam generator, a charged particle irradiation system, a method for operating the charged particle beam generator and a method for operating the charged particle irradiation system, which allow a charged particle beam to be injected into a circular accelerator 200 at an arbitrary timing and can reduce an irradiation time and a time for a therapy, are provided while maintaining the lower limit of an operation cycle of a linear accelerator 111. An accelerator control device 210 controls an operation of a synchrotron 200 on the basis of a beam extraction request signal transmitted from a beam utilization system control device. A control device 210 generates a timing signal notifying the linear accelerator 111 of an injection timing of a next operation cycle of the synchrotron 200 after completion of an extraction process performed by the synchrotron 200, changes an operation timing of the linear accelerator 111 so that the operation timing of the linear accelerator 111 matches the injection timing.