EP3244710B1

EP3244710B1 - Compact cyclotron

Info

Publication number: EP3244710B1
Application number: EP16169497.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michel Abs; Sébastien DE NEUTER
Original assignee: Ion Beam Applications SA
Current assignee: Ion Beam Applications SA
Priority date: 2016-05-13
Filing date: 2016-05-13
Publication date: 2018-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-13
Also published as: CN107371319B; CA2965643A1; CN107371319A; JP6249542B2; CA2965643C; CN207083269U; EP3244710A1; JP2017204470A

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns cyclotrons. In particular, it concerns compact isochronous sector-focused cyclotrons having reduced dimensions and weight compared with state of the art cyclotrons of same energies.

TECHNNICAL BACKGROUND

A cyclotron is a type of circular particle accelerator in which negatively or positively charged particles are accelerated outwards from the centre of the cyclotron along a spiral path up to energies of several MeV. In isochronous cyclotrons, the particle beam runs each successive cycle or cycle fraction of the spiral path in the same time. Unless otherwise indicated, the term "cyclotron" is used in the following to refer to isochronous cyclotrons. Cyclotrons are used in various fields, for example in nuclear physics, in medical treatment such as proton therapy, or in radio pharmacology. In particular, cyclotrons can be used for producing short-lived positron-emitting isotopes suitable for PET (positron emitting tomography) and SPECT imaging (single photon emission computed tomography).
A cyclotron comprises several elements including an injection system, a radiofrequency (RF) accelerating system for accelerating the charged particles, a magnetic system for guiding the accelerated particles along a precise path, an extraction system for collecting the thus accelerated particles, and a vacuum system for creating and maintaining a vacuum in the cyclotron.
A particle beam is introduced into a gap at or near the center of the cyclotron by the injection system with a relatively low initial velocity. This particle beam is sequentially and repetitively accelerated by the RF accelerating system and guided outwards along a spiral path comprised within the gap by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic system. When the particle beam reaches its target energy, it is extracted from the cyclotron by the extraction system provided at a point of extraction. This extraction system can comprise, for example, a stripper consisting of a thin sheet of graphite. For example, H^- ions passing through the stripper lose two electrons and become positive. Consequently, the curvature of their path in the magnetic field changes its sign, and the particle beam is thus led out of the cyclotron towards a target. Other extracting systems exist which are well known to the persons skilled in the art.
The magnetic system generates a magnetic field that guides and focuses the beam of charged particles along the spiral path until it is accelerated to its target energy (cf. Figures 4&5). In the following, the terms "particles", "charged particles", and "ions" are used indifferently as synonyms. The magnetic field is generated in the gap defined between two magnet poles by two solenoid coils wound around these poles. Magnet poles of cyclotrons are often divided into alternating hill sectors and valley sectors distributed around a central axis. The gap between two magnet poles is smaller at the hill sectors and larger at the valley sectors. A strong magnetic field is thus created in the gap within the hill sectors and a weaker magnetic field is created in the gap within the valley sectors. Such azimuthal magnetic field variations provide radial and vertical focusing of the particle beam. For this reason, such cyclotrons are sometimes referred to as sector-focusing cyclotrons. In some embodiments, a hill sector has a geometry of a circular sector similar to a slice of cake with a first and second lateral surfaces extending substantially radially towards the central axis, a generally curved peripheral surface, a central surface adjacent to the central axis, and an upper surface defining one side of the gap. The upper surface is delimited by a first and second lateral edges, a peripheral edge, and a central edge (cf. Figures 1(b) and 3).
In order to maintain a vacuum in the gap and to control and contain the magnetic field in the space surrounding the gap and pair of magnet poles, a cyclotron also comprises a yoke. A yoke is formed by a first and second base plates normal to the central axis, Z, which are separated from one another by a flux return yoke. The first and second base plates and flux return yoke define together a chamber, with the flux return yoke forming the outer walls of the cyclotron and controlling the magnetic field outside of the coils by containing it within the cyclotron. The first and second magnet poles are contained within the chamber. The first and second base plates are provided with openings for fluid communication of the chamber with vacuum pumps.
The flux return yoke is generally formed of two parts which are joined at the level of a median plane normal to the central axis, Z, so that the cyclotron can be opened by moving the first base plate and flux return yoke first part, together with the first magnet pole away from the second base plate, flux return yoke second part and second magnet pole. The flux return yoke must have a minimal thickness, Tv, in order to close and to contain within the cyclotron the magnetic field generated by the magnet poles outside the gap.
A cyclotron is a massive and voluminous piece of equipment weighing several tens of tons. This has of course an impact on the production cost as well as on the cost of transportation and handling of a cyclotron. Standard intermodal containers have a width of about 2.4 m and a similar height, with larger containers such as 40'- and 45'-high-cube containers, reaching a height of about 2.7 m. In order to fit in a standard intermodal container, a cyclotron must fit in a crate of less than 2.4 m (or 2.7 m). The dimensions of a low energy cyclotron, such as one suitable to accelerate 18 MeV protons, usually exceeds the size of standard intermodal containers, with a yoke of diameter of about 2 m and a hydraulic system positioned outside of the yoke. The high volume of cyclotrons requiring the use of non-standard containers together with the high weight of cyclotrons have a negative impact on the cost and handling of cyclotrons.
There therefore remains a need in the art to provide an isochronous sector-focused cyclotron of both lower weight and lower dimensions, to reduce the costs of production and transportation and to enhance the ease of handling of such cyclotrons. The present invention proposes a solution for reducing considerably the volume and weight of cyclotrons. This and other advantages of the present invention are presented more in details in the detailed description of the invention. WO 2012/004225 A1 discloses a cyclotron with means to modify the magnetic field profile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is defined in the appended independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
The present invention concerns a cyclotron for accelerating a particle beam over a given path comprised within a gap, said cyclotron comprising:

(a) A chamber defined within a yoke, wherein said yoke is formed by a first and second base plates normal to a central axis, Z, and separated from one another by a flux return yoke defining a lateral outer wall of the cyclotron,
(b) first and second magnet poles located in the chamber and symmetrically positioned opposite to one another with respect to a median plane normal to the central axis, Z, and separated from one another by said gap, and wherein each of the first and second magnet poles comprises,
(c) at least N = 3 hill sectors having an upper surface (3U) and a same number of valley sectors comprising a bottom surface, said hill sectors and valley sectors being alternatively distributed around the central axis, Z, such that the gap separating the first and second magnet poles comprises hill gap portions defined between the upper surfaces of two opposite hill sectors and having an average gap height, Gh, measured along the central axis, Z, and valley gap portions defined between the bottom surfaces of two opposite valley sectors and having an average valley gap height, Gv, measured along the central axis, Z, with Gv > Gh;
(d) the bottom surfaces of each valley sector are defined by a valley peripheral edge, said valley peripheral edge being bounded by a first and a second lower distal ends, and is defined as the edge of the bottom surface located furthest from the central axis, Z;
(e) the bottom surfaces of each valley sector further comprise an abyssal opening extending through a thickness of the yoke base plates and defining an abyss gap portion of height, Ga, at least five times as large as Gh, said abyssal opening having a cross-section normal to the central axis defined by an abyss perimeter, which is separated from the valley peripheral edge by a shortest distance, Lap, measured along an abyss radial axis, Lar, intersecting perpendicularly the central axis, Z, and wherein the valley peripheral edge is separated from the central axis, Z, by a distance, Lv, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar;
(f) the flux return yoke has a wall thickness varying with the angular position about the central axis, with a lowest wall thickness value, Tv, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar, of each valley sector;

characterized in that,

²

The size and position of the abyssal openings are important. It is preferred that the ratio, 2Ra / Lv, of the diameter, 2Ra, of the abyssal opening to the distance, Lv, separating the valley peripheral edge (4vp) to the central axis, Z, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lra, is comprised between 45 and 60%, preferably between 48 and 55%. The ratio, 2Ra / La, of the diameter, 2Ra, of the abyssal opening to the distance, La, between the central axis, Z, and the centre of an abyssal opening cross-section is at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, more preferably at least 70% of the value of La, and wherein the diameter, 2Ra, of the abyssal opening is preferably comprised between 240 and 300 mm.
The thickness, Tv, of the flux return yoke facing a valley also depends on the average valley gap height and the size of the magnet pole. In particular, the ratio, (Gv x Tv) / Lv², of the product, Gv x Tv, of the average valley gap height, Gv, times the flux return yoke thickness, Tv, to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, can be less than 20%, preferably less than 15%, more preferably less than 10%.
Because of the enhanced focusing effect attributed to the abyssal openings, shallower valleys than in state of the art cyclotrons can be used, which is advantageous in terms of overall size and weight of the cyclotron. For example, the height ratio, Gh / Gv, of the average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions to the average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions can be comprised between 8 and 20%. Concomitantly, with an enhanced focus of the particle beam, a narrower gap can be implemented than hitherto applied. In particular, the ratio of the height product, (Gh x Gv) / Lv², of the average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions times the average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, is less than 5%, preferably less than 3%, more preferably less than 2%. The average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions can be comprised between 20 and 27 mm, preferably between 22 and 26 mm. The average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions can be comprised between 100 and 500 mm, preferably between 150 and 400 mm, preferably between 200 and 250 mm
Generally broader valleys can be used, such that for example, the first and second lower distal ends (3lde) of the valley peripheral edge (4vp) form with the central axis, Z, a valley azimuthal angle, αv, such that the ratio, Gh / tan (αv), of the average hill gap height, Gh, to the tangent of the valley azimuthal angle, tan (αv), is not larger than 30 mm, preferably not larger than 27 mm. In particular, the valley azimuthal angle, αv, can be greater than 35°, preferably greater than 40°, more preferably greater than 42°, and is also more not more than 50°, preferably not more than 46°, more preferably not more than 45°
The flux return yoke comprises an inner surface facing the chamber, and an outer surface facing away from the chamber and separated from the inner surface by the wall thickness of the flux return yoke. In a preferred embodiment of cyclotron according to the present invention comprising N = 4 or 8 hill sectors and a same number of valley sectors, a cross-section normal to the central axis, Z, of the inner surface has a circular geometry concentric with the central axis, Z, and a cross-section normal to the central axis, Z, of the outer surface has a geometry inscribed in a square concentric with the central axis, Z, which edges are normal to the abyss radial axes, Lar, of four valley sectors, and which corners are preferably cut off.
It is more cost effective if the base plates, magnet poles, and flux return yokes are all made of a same material and portions of the base plates and flux return yokes have a same height measured along the central axis, so that all major elements of the cyclotron structure can be made out of a same batch of material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further aspects of the invention will be explained in greater detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.1 schematically shows (a) a side cut wiew and (b) a top view of a cyclotron according to the present invention.
Fig.2 shows a top view of a valley sector and a portion of the flux return yoke according to two embodiments of the present invention.
Fig.3 shows a partial perspective view of a half cyclotron (the outlets for the extracted particles in the flux return yokes are not shown for enhancing visibility).
Fig.4 shows a schematic view of a path followed by particles being accelerated from the central region of the magnet poles to the extraction point.
Fig.5 shows schematically the shape and intensity of the magnetic field in and outside of a hill gap portion, valley gap portion, and abyss gap portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns isochronous sector-focused cyclotrons, hereafter referred to as cyclotron of the type discussed in the technical background section supra. A cyclotron according to the present invention accelerates charged particles outwards from a central area of the cyclotron along a spiral path 12 until they are extracted at energies of several MeV. For example, the charged particles thus extracted can be protons, H⁺, or deuteron, D⁺. Preferably, the energy reached by the extracted particles is comprised between 10 and 26 MeV, more preferably between 15 and 21 MeV, most preferably 18 MeV. Cyclotrons of such energies are used, for example, for producing short-lived positron-emitting isotopes suitable for use in PET (positron emitting tomography) and SPECT imaging.
As illustrated in Fig. 1(a) a cyclotron 1 according to the present invention comprises a chamber defined by two base plates 5 and the flux return yokes 6 which, together, form a yoke. As illustrated in Figures 1(a)& 5, the flux return yokes form the outer walls of the cyclotron and control the magnetic field outside of the coils by containing it within the cyclotron. The containment of the magnetic field within the cyclotron determines the minimal thickness, Tv, of the flux return yokes 6, which depends on the intensity of the magnetic field outward of the gap 7.
A cyclotron further comprises first and second magnet poles 2 located in the chamber, facing each other symmetrically with respect to a median plane MP normal to a central axis, Z, and separated from one another by a gap 7. The yoke and the magnet poles are all made of a magnetic material, preferably a low carbon (C) steel and form a part of the magnetic system. The magnetic system is completed by a first and second coils 14 made of an electrically conductive material wounded around the first and second magnet poles and fitting within an annular space of the chamber comprised between the magnet poles and the flux return yokes.
As illustrated in Figures 1(b) and 4, each of the first and second magnet poles 2 comprises at least N = 3 hill sectors 3 distributed radially around the central axis, Z (Figures 1(b) and 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment with N = 4). As illustrated in Figures 1(b) and 3, each hill sector 3 (represented in Figure 1(b) as light shaded areas) has an upper surface 3U extending over a hill azimuthal angle, αh. Each of the first and second magnet poles 2 further comprises the same number, N, of valley sectors 4 distributed radially around the central axis Z (represented in Figure 3 has dark shaded areas). Each valley sector 4 is flanked by two hill sectors 3 and has a bottom surface 4B extending over a valley azimuthal angle, αv, such that αh + αv = 360/N. As illustrated in Figures 1(b) and 2, the bottom surfaces of the valley sectors further comprise abyssal openings 11 which extend through the whole thickness of the yoke. Such openings are required for fluidly connecting the chamber to a vacuum pump. As will be discussed more in details in continuation, the presence of such openings has been taken advantage of in the present invention for substantially reducing the overall dimensions and weight of cyclotrons.
The hill sectors 3 and valley sectors 4 of the first magnet pole 2 face the opposite hill sectors 3 and valley sectors 4, respectively, of the second magnet pole 2. The path 12 followed by the particle beam illustrated in Figure 4 is comprised within the gap 7 separating the first and second magnet poles. The gap 7 between the first and second magnet poles thus comprises:

hill gap portions 7h defined between the upper surfaces 3U of two opposite hill sectors 3, and having an average gap height, Gh, defined as the average height of the hill gap portions over the areas of two opposite upper surfaces 3U,
valley gap portions 7v defined between the bottom surfaces 4B of two opposite valley sectors 4 and having an average gap height, Gv, defined as the average height of the valley gap portions over the areas of two opposite bottom surfaces 4B, excluding the abyssal openings 11, and within the valley gap portions,
abyss gap portions 7a defined between two opposite abyssal openings of a valley sector and having an average gap height, Ga, which is substantially larger than Gv and Gh.

Average hill and valley gap heights are measured as the average of the gap heights over the whole upper surface and lower surface of a hill sector and a valley sector, respectively. The average of the valley gap height ignores the abyssal openings on the bottom surfaces.
As illustrated in Figures 1(b) and 3, the upper surface 3U is defined by:

an upper peripheral edge 3up, said upper peripheral edge being bounded by a first and a second upper distal ends 3ude, and being defined as the edge of the upper surface located furthest from the central axis Z;
an upper central edge 3uc, said upper central edge being bounded by a first and a second upper proximal ends 3upe and being defined as the edge of the upper surface located closest from the central axis;
a first upper lateral edge 3ul connecting the first upper distal end and first upper proximal end;
a second upper lateral edge 3ul connecting the second upper distal end and second upper proximal end.

Note that, for sake of clarity, no extraction channel is shown at the upper edge of the flux return yokes 6 represented in Figures 1(b) and 3. It is clear that the flux return yokes of a cyclotron according to the present invention do comprise extraction channels allowing the particle beam to exit the cyclotron, as is well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, and which need not be described more in detail here.
A hill sector 3 further comprises (cf. Figure 3):

a first and second lateral surfaces 3L each extending transversally from the first and second upper lateral edges, to the bottom surfaces of the corresponding valley sectors located on either sides of a hill sector, thus defining a first and second lower lateral edges 3ll as the edges intersecting a lateral surface with an adjacent bottom surface, said first and second lower lateral edges each having a lower distal end 3lde located furthest from the central axis;
a peripheral surface 3P extending from the upper peripheral edge to a lower peripheral line 3lp defined as the segment bounded by the lower distal ends 3lde of the first and second lower lateral edges.

The average height, Hh, of a hill sector is the average distance measured parallel to the central axis between lower and upper lateral edges.
Similarly, a valley portion 4 is defined by a bottom surface 4B, flanked on either side by a lateral surface 3L of adjacent hill portions. The bottom surface of a valley portion is therefore bounded by the lower lateral edges 3ll of said adjacent lateral surfaces, and by a valley peripheral edge 4vp defined as the segment bounded by the lower distal ends 3lde of said lower lateral edges. The valley peripheral edge 4vp is defined as the edge of the bottom surface of a valley sector located furthest from the central axis Z.
The abyssal openings 11 are located in the valley portions, where they least disrupt the high magnetic field in the hill gap portions. As mentioned earlier, the abyssal openings are provided for fluidly communicating the chamber to a vacuum pump to ensure a sufficient level of vacuum in the chamber during use of the cyclotron. According to the present invention, however, the abyssal openings are given a further function of control of the magnetic field in the valley portions at the level of the outermost cycles of the particle beam path 12 (cf. Figure 5). For this reason, it is essential that the abyssal openings 11 be located very close to the valley peripheral edge 4vp of each valley. The distance, Lap, of the abyss perimeter to the valley peripheral edge 4vp of each valley sector is defined as the shortest distance measured along an abyss radial axis, Lar, normal to and passing by the central axis, Z, between a perimeter of the abyss opening 11 and the valley peripheral edge 4vp of the corresponding valley sector. The abyss perimeter is defined as the perimeter of the cross-section of an abyssal opening over a plane normal to the central axis and including a lower distal end 3lde of an adjacent lateral surface 3L. If the bottom surface 4B is planar in the area surrounding an abyssal opening, the abyss perimeter is simply the lip of the abyssal opening formed between the bottom surface and the opening.
An end of an edge is defined as one of the two extremities bounding a segment defining the edge. A proximal end is an end located closest to the central axis, Z. A distal end is an end located furthest from the central axis, Z. An end can be a corner point which is defined as a point where two or more lines meet. A corner point can also be defined as a point where the tangent of a curve changes sign or presents a discontinuity.
An edge is a line segment where two surfaces meet. An edge is bounded by two ends as defined supra and defines one side of each of the two meeting surfaces. For reasons of machining tools limitations, as well as for reduction of stress concentrations, two surfaces often meet with a given radius of curvature, R, which makes it difficult to define precisely the geometrical position of the edge intersecting both surfaces. In this case, the edge is defined as the geometric line intersecting the two surfaces extrapolated so as to intersect each other with and infinite curvature (1/R). An upper edge is an edge intersecting the upper surface 3U of a hill sector, and a lower edge is an edge intersecting the bottom surface 4B of a valley sector.
A peripheral edge is defined as the edge of a surface comprising the point located the furthest from the central axis, Z. If the furthest point is a corner point shared by two edges, the peripheral edge is also the edge of a surface which average distance to the central axis, Z, is the largest. For example, the upper peripheral edge is the edge of the upper surface comprising the point located the furthest to the central axis. If a hill sector is compared to a slice of tart, the peripheral edge would be the peripheral crust of the tart.
In an analogous manner, a central edge is defined as the edge of a surface comprising the point located the closest to the central axis, Z. For example, the upper central edge is the edge of the upper surface comprising the point located the closest to the central axis, Z.
A lateral edge is defined as the edge joining a proximal end of a central edge to a distal end of a peripheral edge. The proximal end of a lateral edge is therefore the end of said lateral edge intersecting a central edge, and the distal end of said lateral edge is the end of said lateral edge intersecting a peripheral edge.
Depending on the design of the cyclotron, the upper / lower central edges may have different geometries. The most common geometry is a concave line, often circular, of finite length (≠ 0), with respect to the central axis, Z, which is bounded by a first and second upper / lower proximal ends, separated from one another. This configuration is useful as it clears space for the introduction into the gap of the particle beam. In a first alternative configuration, the first and second proximal central ends are merged into a single proximal central point, forming a summit of the upper surface 3U, which comprises three edges only, the central edge having a zero-length. If a hill sector is again compared to a slice of tart, the pointed tip of the slice would correspond to the central edge thus reduced to a single point. In a second alternative configuration, the transition from the first to the second lateral edges can be a curve convex with respect to the central axis, Z, leading to a smooth transition devoid of any corner point. In this configuration, the central edge is also reduced to a single point defined as the point wherein the tangent changes sign. Usually, even in the first and second alternative configurations, a hill sector does not extend all the way to the central axis, the area directly surrounding the central axis is cleared to allow insertion of the particle beam.
Preferably, as illustrated in Figure 3, the first and second lateral surfaces 3L are chamfered forming a chamfer at the first and second upper lateral edges, respectively. A chamfer is defined as an intermediate surface between two surfaces obtained by cutting off the edge which would have been formed by the two surfaces absent a chamfer. A chamfer reduces the angle formed at an edge between two surfaces. Chamfers are often used in mechanics for reducing stress concentrations. In cyclotrons, however, a chamfered lateral surface at the level of the upper surface of a hill sector enhances the focusing of the particle beam as it reaches a hill gap portion 7h.
As shown in Figure 3, the peripheral surface 3P of a hill sector can also form a chamfer at the upper peripheral edge, which improves the homogeneity of the magnetic field near the peripheral edge.
A cyclotron according to the present invention preferably comprises N = 3 to 8 hill sectors 3. More preferably, as illustrated in the Figures, N = 4. For even values of N, the hill sectors 3 and valley sectors 4 must be distributed about the central axis with any symmetry of 2n, with n = 1 to N/2. Preferably, n = N/2, such that all the N hill sectors are identical to one another, and all the N valley sectors are identical to one another. For odd values of N, the hill sectors 3 and valley sectors 4 must be distributed about the central axis with symmetry of N. In a preferred embodiment, the N hill sectors 3 are uniformly distributed around the central axis for all N = 3 - 8 (i.e., with a symmetry of N). The first and second magnet poles 2 are positioned with their respective upper surfaces 3U facing each other and symmetrically with respect to the median plane MP normal to the respective central axes Z of the first and second magnet poles 2, which are coaxial.
The shape of the hill sectors is often wedge shaped like a slice of tart (often, as discussed supra, with a missing tip) with the first and second lateral surfaces 3L converging from the peripheral surface towards the central axis Z (usually without reaching it). The hill azimuthal angle, αh, corresponds to the converging angle, measured at the level of the intersection point of the (extrapolated) upper lateral edges of the lateral surfaces at, or adjacent to, the central axis Z. The hill azimuthal angle, αh, is preferably comprised between 360° / 2N ± 10°, more preferably between 360° / 2N ± 5°, most preferably between 360° / 2N ± 2°.
The valley azimuthal angle αv, measured at the level of the central axis Z is preferably comprised between 360° / 2N ± 10°, more preferably between 360° / 2N ± 5°, most preferably between 360° / 2N ± 2°. The valley azimuthal angle αv can be equal to the hill azimuthal angle, αh. In case of a degree of symmetry of N, αv = 360 / N - αh; for example, for N = 4, αv is the complementary angle of αh, with αv = 90° - αh.
The largest distance, Lh, between the central axis and a peripheral edge strongly depends on the target energy the particles must reach before extraction and the intensity of the magnetic field. For example, in an 18 MeV proton cyclotron, the longest distance, Lh, is less than 750 mm, typically 520 to 550 mm. The upper peripheral edge has an azimuthal length, Ah, measured between the first and second upper peripheral ends, and can be approximated to, Ah = Lh x αh [rad].
The two magnet poles and solenoid coils 14 wound around each magnet pole, form an (electro-)magnet which generates a magnetic field in the gap between the magnetic poles that guides and focuses the beam of charged particles (= particle beam) along a spiral path 12 illustrated in Figures 4&5, starting from the central area of the cyclotron, until it reaches a target energy, for example of 18 MeV. As discussed supra, the magnet poles are divided into alternating hill sectors and valley sectors distributed around the central axis, Z. As indicated in Figure 5 with thick arrows, a strong magnetic field, B, is thus created in the hill gap portions 7h of height Gh within the hill sectors and a weaker magnetic field, indicated in Figure 5 with thinner arrows, is created in the valley gap portions 7v of height Gv > Gh, within the valley sectors thus creating vertical focusing of the particle beam. The magnetic field in the abyssal gap portions 7a of height Ga >> Gv > Gh, between two abyssal openings 11 is yet weaker than in the valley gap portions 7v.
When a particle beam is introduced into a cyclotron, it is accelerated by an electric field created by so called dees (not shown), positioned in the valley sectors, where the magnetic field is weaker. Each time an accelerated particle penetrates into a hill gap portion 7h where the magnetic field is stronger with a higher speed as in the previous hill gap portion, it is deviated by the magnetic field forming an orbit path, substantially circular of radius larger than in the previous hill gap portion. Once a particle beam has been accelerated to its target energy, it is extracted from the cyclotron at a point called point of extraction, PE, as shown in Figure 4. For example, accelerated protons, H⁺, can be extracted by driving a beam of accelerated H^- ions through a stripper consisting of a thin sheet of graphite located at the point of extraction point, PE. A H^- ion passing through the stripper loses two electrons to become a positive, H⁺. By changing the sign of particle charge, the curvature of its path in the magnetic field changes sign, and the particle beam is thus led out of the cyclotron towards a target (not shown). Other extracting systems are known by the persons skilled in the art and the type and details of the extraction system used is not essential to the present invention. Usually, a point of extraction is located in a hill gap portion 7h. A cyclotron can comprise several points of extraction in a same hill portion. Because of the symmetry requirements of a cyclotron, more than one hill sector comprises an extraction point. For degrees of symmetry of N, all N hill sectors comprise the same number of points of extraction. The points of extraction can be used either separately or two by two simultaneously.
The weight and size of a cyclotron according to the present invention have been reduced by optimizing a number of dimensions. The gist of the present invention, however, rests on the moving outwards of the abyssal openings 11 close to the valley peripheral edges 4vp of the valley sectors, so as to decrease the intensity of the magnetic field at the periphery of the valley sectors of the magnet poles, where it normally is stronger than closer to the central axis, Z, and less uniform. In particular, the distance of an abyssal opening 11 to the valley peripheral edge 4vp, can be characterized by the shortest distance, Lap, measured along an abyss radial axis, Lar, intersecting perpendicularly the central axis, Z, between a periphery or lip of an abyssal opening 11 and the valley peripheral edge 4vp. The value of the shortest distance, Lap, in a cyclotron according to the present invention is typically less than 50 mm, preferably less than 30 mm, more preferably less than 20 mm. It should not be too close to the peripheral edge in order to not create singularities of the magnetic field at the valley peripheral edges which are difficult to control accurately. The value of Lap is therefore preferably at least 1 mm, preferably at least 5 mm.
A low value of the shortest distance, Lap, of an abyssal opening to the valley peripheral edge substantially reduces the intensity of the magnetic field at the periphery and outwards of the magnet poles in the azimuthal regions facing the valley sectors. The thickness, Tv, of the flux return yokes facing the valley sectors measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar, can therefore be reduced accordingly. According to the present invention, the shortest distance, Lap, and thickness, Tv, of the flux return yokes facing the valley sectors are selected such that the ratio, (Lap x Tv) / Lv², of the product of the distance, Lap, of the abyss perimeter to the valley peripheral edge of each valley sector times the flux return yoke thickness, Tv, to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar, is less than 5%, preferably less than 3% , more preferably less than 2%, most preferably less than 1%. By comparison, a state of the art 18 MeV cyclotron may have a ratio, (Lap x Tv) / Lv², of the order of 8 to 11%. A reduction of the thickness of the flux return yoke 6 facing the valley sectors yields a substantial reduction of weight and dimensions of the yoke.
A large abyssal opening 11 is also advantageous. Abyssal openings usually have a circular cross-section of radius, Ra. If, as defined above, Lv is the distance between the central axis, Z, and the valley peripheral edge measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar, the diameter, 2Ra, of the abyssal opening is preferably comprised between 45 and 60%, preferably between 48 and 55% of the value of Lv. In conventional cyclotrons wherein the abyssal openings merely serve for creating vacuum in the chamber, smaller diameters are generally used, of the order of about 40%. Compared with the distance, La, between the central axis, Z, and the centre of an abyssal opening cross-section, the abyss diameter, 2Ra, is preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, more preferably at least 70% of the value of La. For a 18 MeV cyclotron the abyss diameter, 2Ra, can be comprised between 240 and 300 mm.
In case the cross-section of an abyssal opening is not circular, the hydraulic radius, R_hyd, is used instead of Ra, wherein R_hyd = 4 A/ P, wherein A and P are the area and perimeter of the abyssal opening cross-section.
Positioning the abyssal openings 11 close to the valley peripheral edge 4vp also increases the focusing effect of the magnetic field on the particle beam as it enters into a hill gap portion 7h from an abyss gap portion 7a. The hill height, Hh, between a lower and higher lateral edges can therefore be reduced and, with a highly focused particle beam, the height of the hill gap portion can also be reduced. For example, the height ratio, Gh / Gv, (which is equal to Gh / (2Hh + Gh)) of the average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions to the average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions can be comprised between 8 and 20%. In conventional deep valley cyclotrons, the Gh / Gv ratio can be of the order of not more than 5%, with a value of Hh which is considerably higher. All these elements contribute to a substantial reduction of the size and weight of a cyclotron.
The average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions of a cyclotron according to the present invention can be comprised between 20 and 27 mm, preferably between 22 and 26 mm. The average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions can be comprised between 100 and 500 mm, preferably between 150 and 400 mm, preferably between 200 and 250 mm. With a low value of Gv, the overall weight of the cyclotron is reduced since, on the one hand, the hill sectors require less material and, on the other hand, the flux return yokes have a correspondingly low dimension measured parallel to the central axis, Z. Both Gh and Gv have a low value compared with conventional sector-focusing cyclotrons. For example, the ratio, (Gh x Gv) / Lv², of the height product, Gh x Gv, of the average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions times the average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, can be less than 5%, preferably less than 3%, more preferably less than 2%. By contrast, a conventional sector-focusing cyclotron can have a ratio, (Gh x Gv) / Lv², of the order of 6 to 8%.
Because of the presence of the abyssal openings 11 close to the valley peripheral edges, the thickness, Tv, of the flux return yoke measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar, (i.e. at a portion facing a valley sector) can be reduced in spite of the bottom surfaces 4B of two opposite valley sectors being separated by a low value of Gv. When a strong magnetic field is expected at the periphery of two magnet poles separated by a short distance, Gv, thus requiring a thick flux return yoke, a weak magnetic field only is created in a cyclotron according to the present invention because of the abyssal openings being located so close to the valley peripheral edges. For example, the ratio, (Gv x Tv) / Lv², of the product, Gv x Tv, of the average valley gap height, Gv, times the flux return yoke thickness, Tv, to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, can be less than 20%, preferably less than 15%, more preferably less than 10%. Prior art sector-focusing cyclotrons generally have a (Gv x Tv) / Lv² ratio greater than 40%, even of the order of 50%.
As illustrated in the Figures, in a preferred embodiment, the first and second lower distal ends 3lde of the valley peripheral edge 4vp form with the central axis, Z, a valley azimuthal angle, αv, which, as discussed supra, is complementary to the hill azimuthal angle, αv, for N = 4 hill sectors and valley sectors. For example, for N = 4, the valley azimuthal angle, αv, can be comprised between 35 and 50°, preferably between 40 and 46°, more preferably between 42 and 45° and, accordingly, the hill azimuthal angle, αh, can be comprised between 55 and 40°, preferably between 50 and 44°, more preferably between 48 and 45°. By increasing the valley azimuthal angle, αv, the hill azimuthal angle, αh, is therefore reduced and the weight of the cyclotron is reduced accordingly. As discussed supra, thanks to the high focusing effect of the abyssal openings 11, the hill gap portions can have a low value of the hill gap portion height, Gh. The combination of a large valley azimuthal angle, αv, and a low value of Gh can be characterized by a ratio, Gh / tan (αv), which is not larger than 30 mm, preferably not larger than 27 mm. In a state of the art sector-focused cyclotron, the ratio, Gh / tan (αv), is generally higher and can be of the order of between 40 and 50 mm.
As illustrated in Figure 1(b), in a preferred embodiment of cyclotrons comprising N = 4 or 8 hill sectors, preferably N = 4 hill sectors, the flux return yoke 6 comprises an inner surface facing the chamber, and an outer surface facing away from the chamber and separated from the inner surface by the wall thickness of the flux return yoke. A cross-section normal to the central axis, Z, of the inner surface has a circular geometry concentric with the central axis, Z, and a cross-section normal to the central axis, Z, of the outer surface has a geometry inscribed in a square concentric with the central axis, Z. The edges of the square are normal to the abyss radial axes, Lar, of four valley sectors. This geometry yields a smallest thickness of the flux return yoke, Tv, at the portions of the flux return yoke facing four valley sectors. The corners of the square are preferably cut off to accommodate the equipment (e.g., hydraulic, electric, or pneumatic) required for opening the cyclotron at the level of the median plane, MP, and thus further reduce the outer dimensions of the cyclotron.
With a yoke having the geometry described supra, which is rendered possible by the lower magnetic field generated outwards of the valley sectors, cyclotrons of substantially lower dimensions and weight can be produced. For example, a 18 MeV compact cyclotron according to the present invention has been produced weighing about 1/3 less than a similar 18 MeV cyclotron of a former generation. Said compact cyclotron can be packed in a crate of dimensions fitting in a standard multimodal container, which was not possible with the cyclotron of the former generation, thus reducing substantially the costs and difficulties of transportation.
For a more cost effective production of a cyclotron yielding more uniform properties, the base plates 5, magnet poles 2, and flux return yokes 6 are preferably all made of a same material. They are preferably all machined out of a single steel slab or of elements of a single steel slab (i.e., produced out of a single continuous casting operation). At least portions of the base plates 5 and flux return yokes 6 preferably have a same height measured along the central axis, Z.
The upper surface 3U of the hill sectors preferably are lower than an upper surface of the corresponding flux return yoke part, offset by a distance Gh / 2. If the magnet poles 2 rest on a planar base plate 5, then the height of the magnet poles should be equal to the height of the corresponding flux return yoke part minus Gh / 2. Sometimes, however, the inner surfaces normal to the central axis of the first and second base plates, facing the chamber, comprise a recess for accommodating the first and second magnet poles. In this case, the recess is preferably not deeper than Gh / 2, so that magnet poles of same height as the flux return yokes can be used and so that the upper surfaces thereof can reach the required level.
In order to further facilitate the mounting and reproducibility of cyclotrons, each of the first and second magnet poles can be made of a single monobloc element comprising all the hill sectors and valley sectors machined out of said monobloc. This has the advantage that the relative positions and heights of the hill and valley sectors can be accurately controlled numerically during machining, rather than relying on the manual positioning of each hill sector at their final location onto the corresponding base plates.
Cyclotrons according to the present invention are more compact and lighter than conventional cyclotrons. This is made possible by a number of optimizations, but the gist of the present invention is the reduction of the magnetic field being generated outwards of valley portions, by positioning the abyssal openings very close to the valley peripheral edges 4vp. Originally designed solely for fluidly communicating the chamber with a vacuum pump, the abyssal openings 11 have here a further function of, on the one hand, strongly focusing the particle beam as it penetrates into a hill gap portion 7h and, on the other hand, to substantially reduce the intensity of the magnetic field generated outwards of the valley sectors. These two effects allow:

The reduction of the thickness, Tv, of the flux return yokes facing the valley sectors, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar, thus allowing a polygonal outer surface of the yoke, as illustrated in Figure 1(b);
The reduction of the hill portion gap height, Gh, which yields a reduction of the height of the flux return yokes;
The reduction of the hill sector height, Hh, which also yields a reduction of the height of the flux return yokes.

All these elements contribute to the substantial reduction in size and weight of a cyclotron. Examples have been given in the present specification for prior art and inventive cyclotrons of 18 MeV energy. It is clear that the same principles apply for the reduction of size and weight of cyclotrons of different energies.

Ref #	Feature
1	Cyclotron
2	Magnet pole
3	Hill sector
3U	Upper surface
3up	Upper peripheral edge
3ul	Upper lateral edge
3uc	Upper central edge
3ude	Upper distal end of upper lateral edge
3upe	Upper proximal end of upper lateral edge
3L	Lateral surface
3ll	Lower lateral edge
3lp	Lower peripheral line
31de	Lower distal end of lower lateral edge and first and a second valley distal ends
3P	Peripheral surface
3ac	Arc of circle
H3	Hill height
3Plow	Lower portion of the peripheral surface
3Pup	Upper portion of the peripheral surface
3upc	Upper peripheral edge concave portion
4	Valley sector
4B	Bottom surface
4vp	valley peripheral edge
5	Yoke base plate
6	Flux return yoke
7	Gap
7h	Hill gap portion
7v	Valley gap portion
11	Abyssal opening
12	Particles path
14	coil
αh	hill azimuthal angle [°]
αv	valley azimuthal angle [°]
dL	flux return yoke cut off length [mm]
Ga	mean gap height at abyss [mm]
Gh	mean gap height at hill [mm]
Gs	smallest gap height [mm]
Gv	gap height at valley [mm]
Hh	hill height [mm]
Ht	total height and gap height at abyss [mm]
Hv	Valley height [mm]
La	distance abyss centre to Z [mm]
Lap	distance of abyss to peripheral edge [mm] = Lv-(La+Ra)
Lar	abyss radial axis
Lc	distance pole to flux return yoke inner surface [mm]
Lh	radial distance of hill peripheral edge to Z [mm]
Lv	distance between Z and valley peripheral edge measured along Lra
Ra	Radius of abyss
Th	flux return yoke thickness at hill [mm]
Tv	flux return yoke thickness at valley [mm]
Z	Central axis

Claims

A cyclotron for accelerating a particle beam over a given path comprised within a gap, said cyclotron comprising:
(a) A chamber defined within a yoke, wherein said yoke is formed by a first and second base plates (5) normal to a central axis, Z, and separated from one another by a flux return yoke (6) defining a lateral outer wall of the cyclotron,

(b) first and second magnet poles (2) located in the chamber and symmetrically positioned opposite to one another with respect to a median plane normal to the central axis, Z, and separated from one another by said gap (7), and wherein each of the first and second magnet poles comprises,

(c) at least N = 3 hill sectors (3) having an upper surface (3U) and a same number of valley sectors (4) comprising a bottom surface (4B), said hill sectors and valley sectors being alternatively distributed around the central axis, Z, such that the gap separating the first and second magnet poles comprises hill gap portions (7h) defined between the upper surfaces of two opposite hill sectors and having an average gap height, Gh, measured along the central axis, Z, and valley gap portions (7v) defined between the bottom surfaces of two opposite valley sectors and having an average valley gap height, Gv, measured along the central axis, Z, with Gv > Gh;

(d) the bottom surfaces (4B) of each valley sector are defined by a valley peripheral edge (4vp), said valley peripheral edge being bounded by a first and a second lower distal ends (3lde), and is defined as the edge of the bottom surface located furthest from the central axis, Z;

(e) the bottom surfaces (4B) of each valley sector further comprise an abyssal opening extending through a thickness of the yoke base plates and defining an abyss gap portion of height, Ga, at least five times as large as Gh, said abyssal opening having a cross-section normal to the central axis defined by an abyss perimeter, which is separated from the valley peripheral edge by a shortest distance, Lap, measured along an abyss radial axis, Lar, intersecting perpendicularly the central axis, Z, and wherein the valley peripheral edge is separated from the central axis, Z, by a distance, Lv, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar;

(f) the flux return yoke (6) has a wall thickness varying with the angular position about the central axis, with a lowest wall thickness value, Tv, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lar, of each valley sector;
characterized in that, the ratio, (Lap x Tv) / Lv², of the product of the distance, Lap, of the abyss perimeter to the valley peripheral edge of each valley sector times the flux return yoke thickness, Tv, to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, is less than 5%.
The cyclotron according to claim 1, wherein the ratio, (Lap x Tv) / Lv², of the product of the distance, Lap, of the abyss perimeter to the valley peripheral edge of each valley sector times the flux return yoke thickness, Tv, to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, is less than 3%, preferably less than 2%, more preferably less than 1%.
The cyclotron according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ratio, 2Ra / Lv, of the diameter, 2Ra, of the abyssal opening to the distance, Lv, separating the valley peripheral edge (4vp) to the central axis, Z, measured along the abyss radial axis, Lra, is comprised between 45 and 60%, preferably between 48 and 55%.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio, 2Ra / La, of the diameter, 2Ra, of the abyssal opening to the distance, La, between the central axis, Z, and the centre of an abyssal opening cross-section is at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, more preferably at least 70% of the value of La, and wherein the diameter, 2Ra, of the abyssal opening is preferably comprised between 240 and 300 mm.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio, (Gv x Tv) / Lv², of the product, Gv x Tv, of the average valley gap height, Gv, times the flux return yoke thickness, Tv, to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, is less than 20%, preferably less than 15%, more preferably less than 10%.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height ratio, Gh / Gv, of the average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions to the average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions is comprised between 8 and 20%.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the height product, (Gh x Gv) / Lv², of the average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions times the average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions to the square of the distance, Lv, of the peripheral edge to the central axis, Z, is less than 5%, preferably less than 3%, more preferably less than 2%.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the average hill gap height, Gh, of the hill gap portions is comprised between 20 and 27 mm, preferably between 22 and 26 mm.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the average valley gap height, Gv, of the valley gap portions is comprised between 100 and 500 mm, preferably between 150 and 400 mm, preferably between 200 and 250 mm.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second lower distal ends (3lde) of the valley peripheral edge (4vp) form with the central axis, Z, a valley azimuthal angle, αv, such that the ratio, Gh / tan (αv), of the average hill gap height, Gh, to the tangent of the valley azimuthal angle, tan (αv), is not larger than 30 mm, preferably not larger than 27 mm.
The cyclotron according to claim 8, wherein the valley azimuthal angle, αv, is greater than 35°, preferably greater than 40°, more preferably greater than 42°, and is also more not more than 50°, preferably not more than 46°, more preferably not more than 45°.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising N = 4 or 8 hill sectors (3) and a same number of valley sectors (4), wherein the flux return yoke (6) comprises an inner surface facing the chamber, and an outer surface facing away from the chamber and separated from the inner surface by the wall thickness of the flux return yoke, and wherein a cross-section normal to the central axis, Z, of the inner surface has a circular geometry concentric with the central axis, Z, and wherein a cross-section normal to the central axis, Z, of the outer surface has a geometry inscribed in a square concentric with the central axis, Z, which edges are normal to the abyss radial axes, Lar, of four valley sectors, and which corners are preferably cut off.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base plates (5), magnet poles (2), and flux return yokes (6) are all made of a same material and portions of the base plates (5) and flux return yokes (6) have a same height measured along the central axis.
The cyclotron according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second magnet poles is made of a single monobloc element comprising all the hill sectors and valley sectors thereof.