Abstract: A high-intensity external ion injector can includes (a) an ion source defining a plasma chamber and including an aperture through which ions can escape the plasma chamber, (b) a microwave source configured to generate microwave radiation and direct the microwave radiation into the plasma chamber, (c) a gas source filled with a plasma-forming gas and configured to supply the plasma-forming gas to the plasma chamber, (d) a voltage source configured to apply a voltage to the plasma chamber, (e) an einzel triplet lens, (f) an ion focus positioned and configured to focus an ion beam exiting the aperture of the ion source through the einzel triplet lens, and (g) a periodic focusing structure positioned and configured to receive an ion beam exiting the einzel triplet lens.

Abstract: A compact rare-earth superconducting cyclotron includes a magnetic yoke, a pair of superconducting coils, and a pair of rare-earth poles. The magnetic yoke defines a chamber contained within the magnetic yoke. The superconducting coils are contained in the chamber defined in the magnetic yoke and are positioned on opposite sides of a median acceleration plane in the chamber. Each rare-earth pole includes a rare-earth metal and is contained in the chamber defined in the magnetic yoke on opposite sides of the median acceleration plane. Each of the rare-earth poles also extends inward toward a central axis from one of the superconducting coils, is physically separated from the magnetic yoke, and is separated by at least 5 cm from the other rare-earth pole.

Abstract: A high-intensity external ion injector can includes (a) an ion source defining a plasma chamber and including an aperture through which ions can escape the plasma chamber, (b) a microwave source configured to generate microwave radiation and direct the microwave radiation into the plasma chamber, (c) a gas source filled with a plasma-forming gas and configured to supply the plasma-forming gas to the plasma chamber, (d) a voltage source configured to apply a voltage to the plasma chamber, (e) an einzel triplet lens, (f) an ion focus positioned and configured to focus an ion beam exiting the aperture of the ion source through the einzel triplet lens, and (g) a periodic focusing structure positioned and configured to receive an ion beam exiting the einzel triplet lens.

Abstract: A cryogenic magnet structure includes at least two superconducting coils that are substantially symmetric about a central axis and on opposite sides of a median plane. At least one cryostat contains the superconducting coils; and a magnetic yoke surrounds the superconducting coils and contains at least a portion of a chamber, wherein the median plane extends through the chamber. At least one integral maintenance boot assembly is in thermal contact with the superconducting coils and is configured to preserve a sealed vacuum in the cryostat; and a cryogenic refrigerator is in thermal contact with the maintenance boot assembly and is configured to cool the superconducting coils below their critical superconducting temperatures and is configured for removal from thermal contact with the integral maintenance boot assembly without breaking the sealed vacuum in the cryostat.

Abstract: A cryogenic magnet structure includes at least two superconducting coils that are substantially symmetric about a central axis and on opposite sides of a median plane. At least one cryostat contains the superconducting coils; and a magnetic yoke surrounds the superconducting coils and contains at least a portion of a chamber, wherein the median plane extends through the chamber. At least one integral maintenance boot assembly is in thermal contact with the superconducting coils and is configured to preserve a sealed vacuum in the cryostat; and a cryogenic refrigerator is in thermal contact with the maintenance boot assembly and is configured to cool the superconducting coils below their critical superconducting temperatures and is configured for removal from thermal contact with the integral maintenance boot assembly without breaking the sealed vacuum in the cryostat.

Abstract: A cryogenic magnet structure includes at least two superconducting coils, a magnetic yoke, and first and second cryostats. The superconducting coils are substantially symmetric about a central axis, wherein the superconducting coils are on opposite sides of a median plane. The magnetic yoke surrounds the superconducting coils and contains at least a portion of a chamber, wherein the median plane extends through the chamber. The first cryostat contains a first of the superconducting coils, and the second cryostat contains a second of the superconducting coils. The second cryostat is distinct from the first cryostat, and the first and second cryostats are on opposite sides of the median plane in the chamber.

Abstract: A cryogenic magnet structure includes at least two superconducting coils, a magnetic yoke, and first and second cryostats. The superconducting coils are substantially symmetric about a central axis, wherein the superconducting coils are on opposite sides of a median plane. The magnetic yoke surrounds the superconducting coils and contains at least a portion of a chamber, wherein the median plane extends through the chamber. The first cryostat contains a first of the superconducting coils, and the second cryostat contains a second of the superconducting coils. The second cryostat is distinct from the first cryostat, and the first and second cryostats are on opposite sides of the median plane in the chamber.

Abstract: An isochronous cyclotron includes at least two superconducting coils, a magnetic yoke surrounding the coils and containing at least a portion of a beam chamber, a plurality of superconducting flutter coils on each side of the median acceleration plane, a non-magnetic reinforcement structure filling the valleys between the superconducting flutter coils so as to maintain the positioning of the superconducting flutter coils, internal reinforcement structures mounted inside the superconducting flutter coils, and a cryogenic refrigerator thermally coupled with the superconducting coils and with the magnetic yoke.

Abstract: An isochronous cyclotron includes at least two superconducting coils, a magnetic yoke surrounding the coils and containing at least a portion of a beam chamber, a plurality of superconducting flutter coils on each side of the median acceleration plane, a non-magnetic reinforcement structure filling the valleys between the superconducting flutter coils so as to maintain the positioning of the superconducting flutter coils, internal reinforcement structures mounted inside the superconducting flutter coils, and a cryogenic refrigerator thermally coupled with the superconducting coils and with the magnetic yoke.

Abstract: A cyclotron for ion acceleration is magnetically shielded during ion acceleration by passing electrical current in the same direction through both the first and second superconducting primary coils. A first magnetic-field-shielding coil is on the same side of the mid plane as the first superconducting primary coil, while a second magnetic-field-shielding coil is on the same side of the midplane as the second superconducting primary coil and beyond the outer radius of the second superconducting primary coil. Electrical current is also passed through the magnetic-field-shielding coils in a direction opposite to the direction in which electrical current is passed through the superconducting primary coils and generates a canceling magnetic field that reduces the magnetic field generated at radii from the central axis beyond the magnetic-field-shielding coils.

Abstract: A cyclotron for ion acceleration is magnetically shielded during ion acceleration by passing electrical current in the same direction through both the first and second superconducting primary coils. A first magnetic-field-shielding coil is on the same side of the mid plane as the first superconducting primary coil, while a second magnetic-field-shielding coil is on the same side of the midplane as the second superconducting primary coil and beyond the outer radius of the second superconducting primary coil. Electrical current is also passed through the magnetic-field-shielding coils in a direction opposite to the direction in which electrical current is passed through the superconducting primary coils and generates a canceling magnetic field that reduces the magnetic field generated at radii from the central axis beyond the magnetic-field-shielding coils.

Abstract: The invention specifies the use of feedback in the radio frequency (RF) drive for a synchrocyclotron, controlling the phase and/or amplitude of the accelerating field as a means to assure optimal acceleration of the beam, to increase the average beam current and to alter the beam orbit in order to allow appropriate extraction as the beam energy is varied. The effect of space charge is reduced by rapid acceleration and extraction of the beam, and the repetition rate of the pulses can be increased. Several means are presented to monitor the phase of the beam in synchrocyclotrons and to adjust the phase and amplitude of the RF to optimize the acceleration of the beam and to adjust the extraction and injection of the beam. Also, the use of a pulsed ion source that matches the acceptance window of the synchrocyclotron is described.

Abstract: A superconducting coil includes (a) a plurality of windings of a coil comprising high-temperature superconductors and (b) an electrically conductive channel in which the high-temperature superconductors are mounted. The high-temperature superconductors can comprise at least one of the following: Ba2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 (2212), Ba2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 (2223), and YBa2Cu3O7-x (123) superconductor.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic extraction bumps are incorporated into a cyclotron that further includes (a) a pair of magnetic coils encircling a central axis and positioned on opposite sides of a median acceleration plane and (b) a magnetic yoke encircling the central axis and including a return yoke that crosses the median acceleration plane and a first and second pole on opposite sides of the median acceleration plane. The magnetic extraction bumps extend in series radially from the central axis on opposite sides of the median acceleration plane and can be used to extract an orbiting accelerated ion from the cyclotron.

Abstract: A gantry for administering proton beam therapy with improvements which reduce the size, weight, costs and radiation beam loss associated with proton beam therapy systems currently commercially available. The gantry utilizes achromatic superconducting multi-function electromagnet systems wherein the magnets can include dipoles and quadrupoles. The achromatic properties of the rampable magnet systems allow for ease of transmission of the beam whose energy is rapidly changed through a large range of different energies without changing of the strength of the magnetic fields or dipole settings. The magnets may be made with either low or high temperature superconductors. The gantry design further integrates beam scanning but keeps the gantry isocentric. A much greater fraction of the beam can be transmitted through the gantry than with current art, thereby reducing radiation shielding requirements and the demand put on the accelerator to produce large quantities of proton beam.

Abstract: A compact, cold, superconducting isochronous cyclotron can include at least two superconducting coils on opposite sides of a median acceleration plane. A magnetic yoke surrounds the coils and a portion of a beam chamber in which ions are accelerated. A cryogenic refrigerator is thermally coupled both with the superconducting coils and with the magnetic yoke. The superconducting isochronous cyclotron also includes sector pole tips that provide strong focusing; the sector pole tips can have a spiral configuration and can be formed of a rare earth magnet. The sector pole tips can also be separated from the rest of the yoke by a non-magnetic material. In other embodiments, the sector pole tips can include a superconducting material. The spiral pole tips can also include cut-outs on a back side of the sector pole tips remote from the median acceleration plane.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic extraction bumps are incorporated into a cyclotron that further includes (a) a pair of magnetic coils encircling a central axis and positioned on opposite sides of a median acceleration plane and (b) a magnetic yoke encircling the central axis and including a return yoke that crosses the median acceleration plane and a first and second pole on opposite sides of the median acceleration plane. The magnetic extraction bumps extend in series radially from the central axis on opposite sides of the median acceleration plane and can be used to extract an orbiting accelerated ion from the cyclotron.

Abstract: A compact, cold, weak-focusing superconducting cyclotron can include at least two superconducting coils on opposite sides of a median acceleration plane. A magnetic yoke surrounds the coils and contains an acceleration chamber. The magnetic yoke is in thermal contact with the superconducting coils, and the median acceleration plane extends through the acceleration chamber. A cryogenic refrigerator is thermally coupled both with the superconducting coils and with the magnetic yoke.

Abstract: A compact, cold, superconducting isochronous cyclotron can include at least two superconducting coils on opposite sides of a median acceleration plane. A magnetic yoke surrounds the coils and a portion of a beam chamber in which ions are accelerated. A cryogenic refrigerator is thermally coupled both with the superconducting coils and with the magnetic yoke. The superconducting isochronous cyclotron also includes sector pole tips that provide strong focusing; the sector pole tips can have a spiral configuration and can be formed of a rare earth magnet. The sector pole tips can also be separated from the rest of the yoke by a non-magnetic material. In other embodiments, the sector pole tips can include a superconducting material. The spiral pole tips can also include cut-outs on a back side of the sector pole tips remote from the median acceleration plane.

Abstract: A superconducting coil includes (a) a plurality of windings of a coil comprising high-temperature superconductors and (b) an electrically conductive channel in which the high-temperature superconductors are mounted. The high-temperature superconductors can comprise at least one of the following: Ba2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 (2212), Ba2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 (2223), and YBa2Cu3O7-x (123) superconductor.