EP1946624B1 - Sequentiell gepulster wanderwellenbeschleuniger - Google Patents

Sequentiell gepulster wanderwellenbeschleuniger Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1946624B1
EP1946624B1 EP06850535.3A EP06850535A EP1946624B1 EP 1946624 B1 EP1946624 B1 EP 1946624B1 EP 06850535 A EP06850535 A EP 06850535A EP 1946624 B1 EP1946624 B1 EP 1946624B1
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Prior art keywords
dielectric
pulse
accelerator
beam tube
acceleration
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French (fr)
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EP1946624A2 (de
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George J. Caporaso
Scott D. Nelson
Brian Poole
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Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC
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Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H9/00—Linear accelerators
    • H05H9/02—Travelling-wave linear accelerators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H7/00—Details of devices of the types covered by groups H05H9/00, H05H11/00, H05H13/00
    • H05H7/02—Circuits or systems for supplying or feeding radio-frequency energy
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H9/00—Linear accelerators
    • H05H9/005—Dielectric wall accelerators

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to linear accelerators and more particularly to a sequentially pulsed traveling wave accelerator capable of sequentially triggering switches to differentially propagate electric wavefronts through pulse-forming lines of a linear accelerator to produce a traveling axial electrical field along a beam tube of the accelerator in synchronism with an axially traversing pulsed beam of charged particles to serially impart energy to the particle beam.
  • Particle accelerators are used to increase the energy of electrically-charged atomic particles, e.g., electrons, protons, or charged atomic nuclei, so that they can be studied by nuclear and particle physicists.
  • High energy electrically-charged atomic particles are accelerated to collide with target atoms, and the resulting products are observed with a detector. At very high energies the charged particles can break up the nuclei of the target atoms and interact with other fundamental units of matter.
  • Particle accelerators are also important tools in the effort to develop nuclear fusion devices, as well as for medical applications such as cancer therapy.
  • DWA dielectric wall accelerator
  • a dielectric wall accelerator (DWA) system is shown consisting of a series of stacked circular modules which generate a high voltage when switched. Each of these modules is called an asymmetric Blumlein, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,465,840 incorporated by reference herein.
  • the Blumlein is composed of two different dielectric layers. On each surface and between the dielectric layers are conductors which form two parallel plate radial transmission lines.
  • the center electrode between the fast and slow line is initially charged to a high potential. Because the two lines have opposite polarities there is no net voltage across the inner diameter (ID) of the Blumlein.
  • ID inner diameter
  • two reverse polarity waves are initiated which propagate radially inward towards the ID of the Blumlein.
  • the wave in the fast line reaches the ID of the structure prior to the arrival of the wave in the slow line.
  • the fast wave arrives at the ID of the structure, the polarity there is reversed in that line only, resulting in a net voltage across the ID of the asymmetric Blumlein.
  • the DWA accelerator in the Carder patent provides an axial accelerating field that continues over the entire structure in order to achieve high acceleration gradients.
  • the existing dielectric wall accelerators such as the Carder DWA, however, have certain inherent problems which can affect beam quality and performance.
  • several problems exist in the disc-shaped geometry of the Carder DWA which make the overall device less than optimum for the intended use of accelerating charged particles.
  • the flat planar conductor with a central hole forces the propagating wavefront to radially converge to that central hole.
  • the wavefront sees a varying impedance which can distort the output pulse, and prevent a defined time dependent energy gain from being imparted to a charged particle beam traversing the electric field.
  • a charged particle beam traversing the electric field created by such a structure will receive a time varying energy gain, which can prevent an accelerator system from properly transporting such beam, and making such beams of limited use.
  • the impedance of such a structure may be far lower than required. For instance, it is often highly desirable to generate a beam on the order of milliamps or less while maintaining the required acceleration gradients.
  • the disc-shaped Blumlein structure of Carder can cause excessive levels of electrical energy to be stored in the system. Beyond the obvious electrical inefficiencies, any energy which is not delivered to the beam when the system is initiated can remain in the structure. Such excess energy can have a detrimental effect on the performance and reliability of the overall device, which can lead to premature failure of the system.
  • a highly complex distribution system is required.
  • a long pulse structure requires large dielectric sheets for which fabrication is difficult. This can also increase the weight of such a structure. For instance, in the present configuration, a device delivering 50 ns pulse can weigh as much as several tons per meter. While some of the long pulse disadvantages can be alleviated by the use of spiral grooves in all three of the conductors in the asymmetric Blumlein, this can result in a destructive interference layer-to-layer coupling which can inhibit the operation. That is, a significantly reduced pulse amplitude (and therefore energy) per stage can appear on the output of the structure.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,287 to Cole et al discloses a multistation proton beam therapy system used for the Loma Linda University Proton Accelerator Facility in Loma Linda, California.
  • particle source generation is performed at one location of the facility
  • acceleration is performed at another location of the facility
  • patients are located at still other locations of the facility. Due to the remoteness of the source, acceleration, and target from each other particle transport is accomplished using a complex gantry system with large, bulky bending magnets.
  • Other representative systems known for medical therapy are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
  • ion sources which create a plasma discharge from a low pressure gas within a volume. From this volume, ions are extracted and collimated for acceleration into an accelerator. These systems are generally limited to extracted current densities of below 0.25 A/cm2. This low current density is partially due to the intensity of the plasma discharge at the extraction interface.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,553 to Leung et al having an extraction system configured to produce ultra-short ion pulses.
  • Another example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,759,807 to Wahlin disclosing a multi-grid ion beam source having an extraction grid, an acceleration grid, a focus grid, and a shield grid to produce a highly collimated ion beam.
  • U.S. Patent Application Publication US2005/0184686 discloses a compact linear accelerator having at least one strip-shaped Blumlein module which guides a propagating wavefront between first and second ends and controls the output pulse at the second end, Each Blumlein module has first, second, and third planar conductor strips, with a first dielectric strip between the first and second conductor strips, and a second dielectric strip between the second and third conductor strips. Additionally, the compact linear accelerator includes a high voltage power supply connected to charge the second conductor strip to a high potential, and a switch for switching the high potential in the second conductor strip to at least one of the first and third conductor strips so as to initiate a propagating reverse polarity wavefront(s) in the corresponding dielectric strip(s).
  • One aspect of the present invention includes a short pulse dielectric wall accelerator comprising: a dielectric beam tube of length L surrounding an acceleration axis; at least two pulse-forming lines transversely connected to the beam tube, each pulse-forming line having a switch connectable to a high voltage potential for propagating at least one electrical wavefront(s) therethrough independent of other pulse-forming lines to produce a short acceleration pulse of pulse width ⁇ along a corresponding short axial length ⁇ L of the beam tube; and means for sequentially controlling the switches so that a traveling axial electric field is produced along the beam tube in synchronism with an axially traversing pulsed beam of charged particles to serially impart energy to said particles.
  • Another aspect of the present invention includes a sequentially pulsed traveling wave linear accelerator comprising: a plurality of pulse-forming lines extending to a transverse acceleration axis, each pulse-forming line having a switch connectable to a high voltage potential for propagating at least one electrical wavefront(s) therethrough independent of other pulse-forming lines to produce a short acceleration pulse adjacent a corresponding short axial length of the acceleration axis; and a trigger operably connected to sequentially control the switches so that a traveling axial electric field is produced along the acceleration axis in synchronism with an axially traversing pulsed beam of charged particles to serially impart energy to said particles.
  • Another aspect of the present invention includes a sequentially pulsed traveling wave linear accelerator comprising: a dielectric beam tube of length L surrounding an acceleration axis; at least two Blumlein modules, each forming a pulse-forming line transverse to the acceleration axis and comprising: a first conductor having a first end, and a second end connected to the beam tube; a second conductor adjacent to the first conductor, said second conductor having a first end switchable to the high voltage potential, and a second end connected to the beam tube; a third conductor adjacent to the second conductor, said third conductor having a first end, and a second end connected to the beam tube; a first dielectric material with a first dielectric constant that fills the space between the first and second conductors; and a second dielectric material with a second dielectric constant that fills the space between the second and third conductors, with the first and second dielectric constants less than the dielectric constant of the beam tube; each Blumlein module having at least one switch connectable to a high voltage
  • Figures 1-12 show a compact linear accelerator, having at least one strip-shaped Blumlein module which guides a propagating wavefront between first and second ends and controls the output pulse at the second end.
  • Each Blumlein module has first, second, and third planar conductor strips, with a first dielectric strip between the first and second conductor strips, and a second dielectric strip between the second and third conductor strips.
  • the compact linear accelerator includes a high voltage power supply connected to charge the second conductor strip to a high potential, and a switch for switching the high potential in the second conductor strip to at least one of the first and third conductor strips so as to initiate a propagating reverse polarity wavefront(s) in the corresponding dielectric strip(s).
  • the compact linear accelerator has at least one strip-shaped Blumlein module which guides a propagating wavefront between first and second ends and controls the output pulse at the second end.
  • Each Blumlein module has first, second, and third planar conductor strips, with a first dielectric strip between the first and second conductor strips, and a second dielectric strip between the second and third conductor strips.
  • the compact linear accelerator includes a high voltage power supply connected to charge the second conductor strip to a high potential, and a switch for switching the high potential in the second conductor strip to at least one of the first and third conductor strips so as to initiate a propagating reverse polarity wavefront(s) in the corresponding dielectric strip(s).
  • Figures 1-2 show a first example of the compact linear accelerator, generally indicated at reference character 10, and comprising a single Blumlein module 36 connected to a switch 18.
  • the compact accelerator also includes a suitable high voltage supply (not shown) providing a high voltage potential to the Blumlein module 36 via the switch 18.
  • the Blumlein module has a strip configuration, i.e. a long narrow geometry, typically of uniform width but not necessarily so.
  • the particular Blumlein module 11 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has an elongated beam or plank-like linear configuration extending between a first end 11 and a second end 12, and having a relatively narrow width, w n ( Figs. 2 , 4 ) compared to the length, l .
  • This strip-shaped configuration of the Blumlein module operates to guide a propagating electrical signal wave from the first end 11 to the second end 12, and thereby control the output pulse at the second end.
  • the shape of the wavefront may be controlled by suitably configuring the width of the module, e.g. by tapering the width as shown in Figure 6 .
  • the strip-shaped configuration enables the compact accelerator to overcome the varying impedance of propagating wavefronts which can occur when radially directed to converge upon a central hole as discussed in the Background regarding disc-shaped module of Carder. And in this manner, a flat output (voltage) pulse can be produced by the strip or beam-like configuration of the module 10 without distorting the pulse, and thereby prevent a particle beam from receiving a time varying energy gain.
  • the first end 11 is characterized as that end which is connected to a switch, e.g. switch 18, and the second end 12 is that end adjacent a load region, such as an output pulse region for particle acceleration.
  • the narrow beam-like structure of the basic Blumlein module 10 includes three planar conductors shaped into thin strips and separated by dielectric material also shown as elongated but thicker strips.
  • a first planar conductor strip 13 and a middle second planar conductor strip 15 are separated by a first dielectric material 14 which fills the space therebetween.
  • the second planar conductor strip 15 and a third planar conductor strip 16 are separated by a second dielectric material 17 which fills the space therebetween.
  • the separation produced by the dielectric materials positions the planar conductor strips 13, 15 and 16 to be parallel with each other as shown.
  • a third dielectric material 19 is also shown connected to and capping the planar conductor strips and dielectric strips 13-17.
  • the third dielectric material 19 serves to combine the waves and allow only a pulsed voltage to be across the vacuum wall, thus reducing the time the stress is applied to that wall and enabling even higher gradients. It can also be used as a region to transform the wave, i.e., step up the voltage, change the impedance, etc. prior to applying it to the accelerator. As such, the third dielectric material 19 and the second end 12 generally, are shown adjacent a load region indicated by arrow 20.
  • arrow 20 represents an acceleration axis of a particle accelerator and pointing in the direction of particle acceleration. It is appreciated that the direction of acceleration is dependent on the paths of the fast and slow transmission lines, through the two dielectric strips, as discussed in the Background.
  • the switch 18 is shown connected to the planar conductor strips 13, 15, and 16 at the respective first ends, i.e. at first end 11 of the module 36.
  • the switch serves to initially connect the outer planar conductor strips 13, 16 to a ground potential and the middle conductor strip 15 to a high voltage source (not shown).
  • the switch 18 is then operated to apply a short circuit at the first end so as to initiate a propagating voltage wavefront through the Blumlein module and produce an output pulse at the second end.
  • the switch 18 can initiate a propagating reverse polarity wavefront in at least one of the dielectrics from the first end to the second end, depending on whether the Blumlein module is configured for symmetric or asymmetric operation.
  • the Blumlein module When configured for asymmetric operation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 , the Blumlein module comprises different dielectric constants and thicknesses ( d 1 ⁇ d 2 ) for the dielectric layers 14, 17, in a manner similar to that described in Carder.
  • the asymmetric operation of the Blumlein generates different propagating wave velocities through the dielectric layers.
  • a magnetic material is also placed in close proximity to the second dielectric strip 98 such that propagation of the wavefront is inhibited in that strip.
  • the switch is adapted to initiate a propagating reverse polarity wavefront in only the first dielectric strip 95.
  • the switch 18 is a suitable switch for asymmetric or symmetric Blumlein module operation, such as for example, gas discharge closing switches, surface flashover closing switches, solid state switches, photoconductive switches, etc.
  • the choice of switch and dielectric material types/dimensions can be suitably chosen to enable the compact accelerator to operate at various acceleration gradients, including for example gradients in excess of twenty megavolts per meter. However, lower gradients would also be achievable as a matter of design.
  • k 1 is the first electrical constant of the first dielectric strip defined by the square root of the ratio of permeability to permittivity of the first dielectric material
  • g 1 is the function defined by the geometry effects of the neighboring conductors
  • d 1 is the thickness of the first dielectric strip.
  • k 2 is the second electrical constant of the second dielectric material
  • g 2 is the function defined by the geometry effects of the neighboring conductors
  • w 2 is the width of the second planar conductor strip
  • d 2 is the thickness of the second dielectric strip.
  • Figures 4 and 5 show an example of the Blumlein module having a second planar conductor strip 42 with a width that is narrower than those of the first and second planar conductor strips 41, 42, as well as first and second dielectric strips 44, 45.
  • the destructive interference layer-to-layer coupling discussed in the Background is inhibited by the extension of electrodes 41 and 43 as electrode 42 can no longer easily couple energy to the previous or subsequent Blumlein.
  • another exemplary embodiment of the module preferably has a width which varies along the lengthwise direction, l , (see Figures 2 , 4 ) so as to control and shape the output pulse shape. This is shown in Figure 6 showing a tapering of the width as the module extends radially inward towards the central load region.
  • dielectric materials and dimensions of the Blumlein module are selected such that, Z 1 is substantially equal to Z 2 . As previously discussed, match impedances prevent the formation of waves which would create an oscillatory output.
  • the second dielectric strip a material having a dielectric constant, i.e. ⁇ 1 ⁇ 1 , which is greater than the dielectric constant of the first dielectric strip, i.e. ⁇ 2 ⁇ 2 .
  • the thickness of the first dielectric strip is indicated as d 1
  • the thickness of the second dielectric strip is indicated as d 2
  • d 2 shown as being greater than d 1.
  • the characteristic impedance may be the same on both halves, the propagation velocity of signals through each half is not necessarily the same.
  • the dielectric constants and the thicknesses of the dielectric strips may be suitably chosen to effect different propagating velocities, it is appreciated that the elongated strip-shaped structure and configuration need not utilize the asymmetric Blumlein concept, i.e. dielectrics having different dielectric constants and thicknesses. Since the controlled waveform advantages are made possible by the elongated beam-like geometry and configuration of the Blumlein modules, and not by the particular method of producing the high acceleration gradient, another exemplary embodiment can employ alternative switching arrangements, such as that discussed for Figure 12 involving symmetric Blumlein operation.
  • the compact accelerator may alternatively be configured to have two or more of the elongated Blumlein modules stacked in alignment with each other.
  • Figure 3 shows a compact accelerator 21 having two Blumlein modules stacked together in alignment with each other.
  • the two Blumlein modules form an alternating stack of planar conductor strips and dielectric strips 24-32, with the planar conductor strip 32 common to both modules.
  • the conductor strips are connected at a first end 22 of the stacked module to a switch 33.
  • a dielectric wall is also provided at 34 capping the second end 23 of the stacked module, and adjacent a load region indicated by acceleration axis arrow 35.
  • the compact accelerator may also be configured with at least two Blumlein modules which are positioned to perimetrically surround a central load region. Furthermore, each perimetrically surrounding module may additionally include one ore more additional Blumlein modules stacked to align with the first module.
  • Figure 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a compact accelerator 50 having two Blumlein module stacks 51 and 53, with the two stacks surrounding a central load region 56. Each module stack is shown as a stack of four independently operated Blumlein modules ( Figure 7 ), and is separately connected to associated switches 52, 54. It is appreciated that the stacking of Blumlein modules in alignment with each other increases the coverage of segments along the acceleration axis.
  • FIGs 8 and 9 another example of a compact accelerator is shown at reference character 60, having two or more conductor strips, e.g. 61, 63, connected at their respective second ends by a ring electrode indicated at 65.
  • the ring electrode configuration operates to overcome any azimuthal averaging which may occur in the arrangement of such as Figures 6 and 7 where one or more perimetrically surrounding modules extend towards the central load region without completely surrounding it.
  • each module stack represented by 61 and 62 is connected to an associated switch 62 and 64, respectively.
  • Figures 8 and 9 show an insulator sleeve 68 placed along an interior diameter of the ring electrode.
  • separate insulator material 69 is also shown placed between the ring electrodes 65.
  • alternating layers of conducting 66 and insulating 66' foils may be utilized. The alternative layers may be formed as a laminated structure in lieu of a monolithic dielectric strip.
  • Figures 10 and 11 show two additional implementations of the compact accelerator, generally indicated at reference character 70 in Figure 10 , and reference character 80 in Figure 11 , each having Blumlein modules with non-linear strip-shaped configurations.
  • the non-linear strip-shaped configuration is shown as a curvilinear or serpentine form.
  • the accelerator 70 comprises four modules 71, 73, 75, and 77, shown perimetrically surrounding and extending towards a central region. Each module 71, 73, 75, and 77, is connected to an associated switch, 72, 74, 76, and 78, respectively.
  • FIG 11 shows a similar arrangement as in Figure 10 , with the accelerator 80 having four modules 81, 83, 85, and 87, shown perimetrically surrounding and extending towards a central region.
  • Each module 81, 83, 85, and 87 is connected to an associated switch, 82, 84, 86, and 88, respectively.
  • the radially inner ends, i.e. the second ends, of the modules are connected to each other by means of a ring electrode 89, providing the advantages discussed in Figure 8 .
  • An Induction Linear Accelerator in the quiescent state is shorted along its entire length.
  • the acceleration of a charged particle relies on the ability of the structure to create a transient electric field gradient and isolate a sequential series of applied acceleration pulse from the adjoining pulse-forming lines.
  • this method is implemented by causing the pulseforming lines to appear as a series of stacked voltage sources from the interior of the structure for a transient time, when preferably, the charge particle beam is present.
  • Typical means for creating this acceleration gradient and providing the required isolation is through the use of magnetic cores within the accelerator and use of the transit time of the pulse-forming lines themselves. The latter includes the added length resulting from any connecting cables.
  • the system After the acceleration transient has occurred, because of the saturation of the magnetic cores, the system once again appears as a short circuit along its length.
  • the disadvantage of such prior art system is that the acceleration gradient is quite low ( ⁇ 0.2-0.5 MV/m) due to the limited spatial extent of the acceleration region and magnetic material is expensive and bulky. Furthermore, even the best magnetic materials cannot respond to a fast pulse without severe loss of electrical energy, thus if a core is required, to build a high gradient accelerator of this type can be impractical at best, and not technically feasible at worst.
  • FIG 25 shows a schematic view of the sequentially pulsed traveling wave accelerator of the present invention, generally indicated at reference character 160 having a length 1.
  • Each of the transmission lines (163) of the accelerator is shown having a length ⁇ R and a width ⁇ l , and the beam tube has a diameter d.
  • a trigger controller 161 is provided which sequentially triggers a set of switches 162 to sequentially excite a short axial length ⁇ l of the beam tube with an acceleration pulse having electrical length (i.e. pulse width) ⁇ , to produce a single virtual traveling wave 164 along the length of the acceleration axis.
  • the sequential trigger/controller is capable of sequentially triggering the switches so that a traveling axial electric field is produced along a beam tube surrounding the acceleration axis in synchronism with an axially traversing pulsed beam of charged particles to serially impart energy to the particles.
  • the trigger controller 161 may trigger each of the switches individually. Alternatively, it is capable of simultaneously switching at least two adjacent transmission lines which form a block and sequentially switching adjacent blocks, so that an acceleration pulse is formed through each block. In this manner, blocks of two or more switches/transmission lines excite a short axial length n ⁇ l of the beam tube wall.
  • ⁇ l is a short axial length of the beam tube wall corresponding to an excited line
  • n is the number of adjacent excited lines at any instant of time, with n ⁇ 1.
  • d 8 cm
  • ⁇ several nanoseconds (e.g. 1-5 nanoseconds for proton acceleration, 100 picoseconds to few nanoseconds for electron acceleration)
  • the present invention is scalable to virtually any dimension.
  • the diameter d and length l of the beam tube satisfy the criteria l > 4d , so as to reduce fringe fields at the input and output ends of the dielectric beam tube.
  • the beam tube preferably satisfies the criteria: ⁇ v > d / 0 .
  • v the velocity of the wave on the beam tube wall
  • d the diameter of the beam tube
  • ⁇ the pulse width
  • ⁇ 2 ⁇ ⁇ R ⁇ r ⁇ ⁇ r c
  • ⁇ the Lorentz factor
  • ⁇ 1 1 - v 2 c 2 .
  • ⁇ R the length of the pulse-forming line
  • ⁇ r the relative permitivity.
  • the accelerator system of the present invention operates without a core because if the criteria n ⁇ l / ⁇ l is satisfied, then the electrical activation of the beam tube occurs along a small section of the beam tube at a given time is kept from shorting out.
  • Use of a core also operates to limit repetition rate of the accelerator because a pulse power source is needed to reset the core.
  • the acceleration pulsed in a given n ⁇ l is isolated from the conductive housing due to the transient isolation properties of the un-energized transmission lines neighboring the given axial segment. It is appreciated that a parasitic wave arises from incomplete transient isolation properties of the unenergized transmission lines since some of the switch current is shunted to the unenergized transmission lines. This occurs of course without magnetic core isolation to prevent this shunt from flowing. Under certain conditions, the parasitic wave may be used advantageously, such as illustrated in the following example.
  • the parasitic wave generated in the un-energized transmission lines will generate a higher voltage on the un-energized lines boosting its voltage over the initial charged state while boosting the voltage on the slow line by a lesser amount. This is because the two lines appear in series as a voltage divider subjected to the same injected current. The wave appearing at the accelerator wall is now boosted to a larger value than initially charged, making a higher acceleration gradient achievable.
  • Figures 26 and 27 illustrate the different in the gradient generated in the beam tube of length L.
  • Figure 26 shows the single pulse traveling wave having a width v ⁇ less than the length L.
  • Figure 27 shows a typical operation of stacked Blumlein modules where all the transmission lines are simultaneously triggered to produce a gradient across the entire length L of the accelerator. In this case, v ⁇ is greater than or equal to length L.
  • C. Charged Particle Generator Integrated Pulsed Ion Source and Injector
  • Figure 13 shows an exemplary embodiment of a charged particle generator 110 of the present invention, having a pulsed ion source 112 and an injector 113 integrated into a single unit.
  • the particle generator operates to create an intense pulsed ion beam by using a pulsed ion source 112 using a surface flashover discharge to produces a very dense plasma.
  • Estimates of the plasma density are in excess of 7 atmospheres, and such discharges are prompt so as to allow creation of extremely short pulses.
  • Conventional ion sources create a plasma discharge from a low pressure gas within a volume. From this volume, ions are extracted and collimated for acceleration into an accelerator. These systems are generally limited to extracted current densities of below 0.25 A/cm2. This low current density is partially due to the intensity of the plasma discharge at the extraction interface.
  • the pulsed ion source of the present invention has at least two electrodes which are bridged with an insulator.
  • the gas species of interest is either dissolved within the metal electrodes or in a solid form between two electrodes. This geometry causes the spark created over the insulator to received that substance into the discharge and become ionized for extraction into a beam.
  • the at least two electrodes are bridged with an insulating, semi-insulating, or semiconductive material by which a spark discharge is formed between these two electrodes.
  • the material containing the desired ion species in atomic or molecular form in or in the vicinity of the electrodes.
  • the material containing the desired ion species is an isotope of hydrogen, e.g. H2, or carbon.
  • FIG. 14 and 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of the pulsed ion source, generally indicated at reference character 112.
  • a ceramic 121 is shown having a cathode 124 and an anode 123 on a surface of the ceramic.
  • the cathode is shown surrounding a palladium centerpiece 124 which caps an H2 reservoir 114 below it. It is appreciated that the cathode and anode may be reversed.
  • an aperture plate, i.e. gated electrode 115 is positioned with the aperture aligned with the palladium top hat 124.
  • Charged particle extraction, focusing and transport from the pulsed ion source 112 to the input of a linear accelerator is provided by an integrated injector section 113, shown in Figure 13 .
  • the injector section 113 of the charged particle generator serves to also focus the charged-ion beam onto the target, which can be either a patient in a charged-particle therapy facility or a target for isotope generation or any other appropriate target for the charge-particle beam.
  • the integrated injector of the present invention enables the charged particle generator to use only electric focusing fields for transporting the beam and focusing on the patient. There are no magnets in the system. The system can deliver a wide range of beam currents, energies and spot sizes independently.
  • Figure 13 shows a schematic arrangement of the injector 113 in relation to the pulsed ion source 112
  • Figure 21 shows a schematic of the combined charged particle generator 132 integrated with a linear accelerator 131.
  • the entire compact high-gradient accelerator's beam extraction, transport and focus are controlled by the injector comprising a gate electrode 115, an extraction electrode 116, a focus electrode 117, and a grid electrode 119, which locate between the charge particle source and the high-gradient accelerator.
  • the minimum transport system should consist of an extraction electrode, a focusing electrode and the grid electrode. And more than one electrode for each function can be used if they are needed. All the electrodes can also be shaped to optimize the performance of the system, as shown in Figure 18 .
  • the gate electrode 115 with a fast pulsing voltage is used to turn the charged particle beam on and off within a few nanoseconds.
  • the simulated extracted beam current as a function of the gate voltage in a high-gradient accelerator designed for proton therapy is presented in Figure 17
  • the final beam spots for various gate voltages are presented in Figure 16 .
  • the nominal gate electrode's voltage is 9 kV
  • the extraction electrode is at 980 kV
  • the focus electrode is at 90 kV
  • the grid electrode is at 980 kV
  • the high-gradient accelerator is acceleration gradient is 100 MV/m. Since Figure 16 shows that the final spot size is not sensitive to the gate electrode's voltage setting, the gate voltage provides an easy knob to turn on/off the beam current as indicated by Figure 17 .
  • the high-gradient accelerator system's injector uses a gate electrode and an extraction electrode to extract and catch the space charge dominated beam, whose current is determined by the voltage on the extraction electrode.
  • the accelerator system uses a set of at least one focus electrodes 117 to focus the beam onto the target.
  • the potential contour plots shown in Figure 18 illustrate how the extraction electrodes and the focus electrodes function.
  • the minimum focusing/transport system i.e., one extraction electrode and one focus electrode, is used in this case.
  • the voltages on the extraction electrode, the focus electrode and the grid electrode at the high-gradient accelerator entrance are 980 kV, 90 kV and 980 kV.
  • Figure 18 shows that the shaped extraction electrode voltage sets the gap voltage between the gate electrode and the extraction electrode.
  • Figure 18 also shows that the voltages on the shaped extraction electrode, the shaped focusing electrode and the grid electrodes create an electrostatic focusing-defocusing-focusing region, i.e., an Einzel lens, which provides a strong net focusing force on the charge particle beam.
  • an electrostatic focusing-defocusing-focusing region i.e., an Einzel lens
  • the accelerator system of the present invention is totally free of focusing magnets. Furthermore, the present invention also combines Einzel lens with other electrodes to allow the beam spot size at the target tunable and independent of the beam's current and energy.
  • the grid electrode 119 At the exit of the injector or the entrance of our high-gradient accelerator, there is the grid electrode 119.
  • the extraction electrode and the grid electrode will be set at the same voltage.
  • the grid electrode's voltage the same as the extraction electrode's voltage
  • the energy of the beam injected into the accelerator will stay the same regardless of the voltage setting on the shaped focus electrode.
  • changing the voltage on the shaped focus electrode will only modify the strength of the Einzel lens but not the beam energy.
  • the final spot can be tuned freely by adjusting the shaped focus electrode's voltage, which is independent of the beam current and energy.
  • the compact high-gradient accelerator system employing such an integrated charged particle generator can deliver a wide range of beam currents, energies and spot sizes independently.
  • the entire accelerator's beam extraction, transport and focus are controlled by a gate electrode, a shaped extraction electrode, a shaped focus electrode and a grid electrode, which locate between the charge particle source and the high-gradient accelerator.
  • the extraction electrode and the grid electrode have the same voltage setting.
  • the shaped focus electrode between them is set at a lower voltage, which forms an Einzel lens and provides the tuning knob for the spot size.
  • the minimum transport system consists of an extraction electrode, a focusing electrode and the grid electrode, more Einzel lens with alternating voltages can be added between the shaped focus electrode and the grid electrode if a system needs really strong focusing force.
  • Figure 21 shows a schematic view of an exemplary actuable compact accelerator system 130 of the present invention having a charged particle generator 132 integrally mounted or otherwise located at an input end of a compact linear accelerator 131 to form a charged particle beam and to inject the beam into the compact accelerator along the acceleration axis.
  • a relatively compact size with unit construction may be achieved capable of unitary actuation by an actuator mechanism 134, as indicated by arrow 135, and beams 136-138.
  • magnets were required to transport a beam from a remote location.
  • a beam such as a proton beam may be generated, controlled, and transported all in close proximity to the desired target location, and without the use of magnets.
  • a beam such as a proton beam may be generated, controlled, and transported all in close proximity to the desired target location, and without the use of magnets.
  • Such a compact system would be ideal for use in medical therapy accelerator applications, for example.
  • Such a unitary apparatus may be mounted on a support structure, generally shown at 133, which is configured to actuate the integrated particle generator-linear accelerator to directly control the position of a charged particle beam and beam spot created thereby.
  • a support structure generally shown at 133
  • FIGs 22-24 show exemplary embodiments of the present invention showing a combined compact accelerator/charged particle source mounted on various types of support structure, so as to be actuable for controlling beam pointing.
  • the accelerator and charged particle source may be suspended and articulated from a fixed stand and directed to the patient ( Figures 22 and 23 ).
  • unitary actuation is possible by rotating the unit apparatus about the center of gravity indicated at 143.
  • the integrated compact generator-accelerator may be preferably pivotally actuated about its center of gravity to reduce the energy required to point the accelerated beam. It is appreciated, however, that other mounting configurations and support structures are possible within the scope of the present invention for actuating such a compact and unitary combination of compact accelerator and charged particle source.
  • accelerator architectures may be used for integration with the charged particle generator which enables the compact actuable structure.
  • accelerator architecture may employ two transmission lines in a Blumlein module construction previously described.
  • the transmission lines are parallel plate transmission lines.
  • the transmission lines preferably have a strip-shaped configuration as shown in Figures 1-12 .
  • various types of high-voltage switches with fast (nanosecond) close times may be used, such as for example, SiC photoconductive switches, gas switches, or oil switches.
  • actuator mechanisms and system control methods known in the art may be used for controlling actuation and operation of the accelerator system.
  • simple ball screws, stepper motors, solenoids, electrically activated translators and/or pneumatics, etc. may be used to control accelerator beam positioning and motion. This allows programming of the beam path to be very similar if not identical to programming language universally used in CNC equipment.
  • the actuator mechanism functions to put the integrated particle generator-accelerator into mechanical action or motion so as to control the accelerated beam direction and beamspot position.
  • the system has at least one degree of rotational freedom (e.g.
  • DOF degrees of freedom
  • the translations represent the ability to move in each of three dimensions, while the rotations represent the ability to change angle around the three perpendicular axes.
  • Accuracy of the accelerated beam parameters can be controlled by an active locating, monitoring, and feedback positioning system (e.g. a monitor located on the patient 145) designed into the control and pointing system of the accelerator, as represented by measurement box 147 in Figure 22 .
  • a system controller 146 is shown controlling the accelerator system, which may be based on at least one of the following parameters of beam direction, beamspot position, beamspot size, dose, beam intensity, and beam energy. Depth is controlled relatively precisely by energy based on the Bragg peak.
  • the system controller preferably also includes a feedforward system for monitoring and providing feedforward data on at least one of the parameters.
  • the beam created by the charged particle and accelerator may be configured to generate an oscillatory projection on the patient.
  • the oscillatory projection is a circle with a continuously varying radius.
  • the application of the beam may be actively controlled based on one or a combination of the following: position, dose, spot-size, beam intensity, beam energy.

Claims (10)

  1. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden mit einer dielektrischen Strahlröhre (160) der Länge L, welche eine Beschleunigungsachse umgibt, wobei der Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass er folgendes umfasst:
    wenigstens zwei benachbarte Impulsformerleitungen (163), die transversal mit der Strahlröhre (160) verbunden sind, wobei jede Impulsformerleitung (163) einen Schalter (162) aufweist, der mit einem Hochspannungspotential verbunden werden kann, um wenigstens eine elektrische Wellenfront(en) (164) durch die verbundene Impulsformerleitung (163) unabhängig von den anderen Impulsformerleitungen (163) auszubreiten, um einen kurzen Beschleunigungsimpuls der Impulsbreite τ entlang einer entsprechenden kurzen axialen Länge δL der Strahlröhre (160) zu erzeugen; und
    eine Einrichtung (161) zur sequentiellen Steuerung der Schalter (162), so dass ein sich bewegendes axiales elektrisches Feld entlang der Strahlröhre (160) synchron zu einem axial verlaufenden Impulsstrahl geladener Teilchen erzeugt wird, um den genannten Teilchen seriell Energie zu verleihen.
  2. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden nach Anspruch 1,
    wobei jede Impulsformerleitung (163) ein Blumlein-Modul ist, das folgendes umfasst:
    einen ersten Leiter (13) mit einem ersten Ende (11) und einem zweiten Ende (12) angrenzend an die Beschleunigungsachse;
    einen zweiten Leiter (15) angrenzend an den ersten Leiter, wobei der genannte zweite Leiter ein erstes Ende (11) aufweist, das auf das Hochspannungspotential geschaltet werden kann, und mit einem zweiten Ende (12) angrenzend an die Beschleunigungsachse;
    einen dritten Leiter (16) angrenzend an den zweiten Leiter, wobei der genannte dritte Leiter ein erstes Ende (11) und ein zweites Ende (12) angrenzend an die Beschleunigungsachse aufweist;
    ein erstes dielektrisches Material (14) mit einer ersten Dielektrizitätskonstante, die den Raum zwischen den ersten und zweiten Leitern füllt; und
    ein zweites dielektrisches Material (17) mit einer zweiten Dielektrizitätskonstante, das den Raum zwischen den zweiten und dritten Leitern füllt.
  3. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden nach Anspruch 2, wobei die ersten (13), zweiten (15) und dritten (16) Leiter und die ersten (14) und zweiten (17) dielektrischen Materialien parallele Plattenstreifenkonfigurationen aufweisen, die sich von den ersten (11) zu den zweiten (12) Enden erstrecken.
  4. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden nach Anspruch 2, wobei die dielektrische Strahlröhre (160) eine Dielektrizitätskonstante aufweist, die höher ist als die der ersten (14) und zweiten (17) dielektrischen Materialien.
  5. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden nach Anspruch 4,
    wobei die dielektrische Strahlröhre (160) wechselweise Schichten aus Leitern und Dielektrika in Ebenen aufweist, die orthogonal zu der Beschleunigungsachse sind.
  6. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Einrichtung (161) zur sequentiellen Steuerung der Schalter gleichzeitig wenigstens zwei benachbarte Impulsformerleitungen (163) schalten kann, die einen Block bilden, und wobei sie sequentiell benachbarte Blöcke schalten kann, so dass ein Beschleunigungsimpuls sequentiell durch jeden Block erzeugt wird.
  7. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Durchmesser d und die Länge L der Strahlröhre (160) das Kriterium L>4d erfüllen, um Randeffekte an den Eingangs- und Ausgangsenden der dielektrischen Strahlröhre (160) zu reduzieren.
  8. Kurzimpuls-Beschleuniger mit dielektrischen Wänden nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Strahlröhre (160) folgendes Kriterium erfüllt: :γτv>d/0.6, , wobei v die Geschwindigkeit der Welle an der Strahlröhrenwand ist, wobei d der Durchmesser der Strahlröhre ist, wobei γ die Impulsbreite ist, mit τ = 2 ⁢ Δ R μ r ⁢ ε r c ,
    Figure imgb0005
     und wobei γ der Lorentzfaktor ist, mit γ = 1 1 - v 2 c 2 ,
    Figure imgb0006
     und
    wobei c = die Lichtgeschwindigkeit, wobei ΔR die Länge der Impulsformerleitung ist, wobei µr die relative Permeabilität ist, und wobei εr die relative Permittivität ist.
  9. Sequentiell impulsgesteuerter, linearer Wanderfeldbeschleuniger nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Blumlein-Module (163) symmetrische Blumlein-Module sind, wobei die ersten und zweiten Dielektrizitätskonstanten gleich sind.
  10. Sequentiell impulsgesteuerter, linearer Wanderfeldbeschleuniger nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Blumlein-Module (163) asymmetrische Blumlein-Module sind, wobei die ersten und zweiten Dielektrizitätskonstanten ungleich sind.
EP06850535.3A 2005-10-24 2006-10-24 Sequentiell gepulster wanderwellenbeschleuniger Not-in-force EP1946624B1 (de)

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