Abstract: A magnetic field concentrating or guiding device can include one or more coils, and one or more foil, tape and/or bulk superconductor structures disposed in one or more predetermined positions with relation to the coils. The one or more superconductor structures can form one or more magnetic field carrying regions. During operation, current passing through the one or more coils can generate one or more magnetic fields that are compressed or guided in the magnetic field carrying regions.

Abstract: An apparatus may include global control module, the global control module including a digital master clock generator and a master waveform generator. The apparatus may also include a plurality of resonator control modules, coupled to the global control module. A given resonator control module of the plurality of resonator control modules may include a synchronization module, having a first input coupled to receive a resonator output voltage pickup signal from a local resonator, a second input coupled to receive a digital master clock signal from the digital master clock generator, and a first output coupled to send a delay signal to the master waveform generator.

Abstract: Proton beams are a promising alternative to X-rays for therapeutic purposes because they may also destroy cancer cells, but with a greatly reduced damage to healthy tissue. The energy dose in tissue may be concentrated at the tumor site by configuring the beam to position the Bragg Peak proximate the tumor. The longitudinal range of a proton beam in tissue is generally dependent upon the energy of the beam. However, after switching energies, the proton-beam system requires some time for the beam energy to stabilize before it may be used for therapy. A proton linear accelerator system is provided for irradiating tissue with an improved beam energy control, configured to provide RF energy from a first RF energy source during the on-time of the proton beam operating cycle for changing the energy of the proton beam, and to provide RF energy from a second distinct RF energy source during the off-time of the proton beam operating cycle for increasing or maintaining the temperature of the cavity.

Abstract: A synchrocyclotron for extracting charged particles accelerated to an extraction energy includes a magnetic unit comprising N valley sectors and N hill sectors, and configured for creating z-component of a main magnetic characterized by a radial tune of the successive orbits. The synchrocyclotron includes a first instability coil unit and a second instability coil unit configured for creating a field bump of amplitude increasing radially. The amplitude of the field bump may be varied to reach the value of the offset amplitude at the average instability onset radius. The offset amplitude may be the minimal amplitude of the field bump at the average instability onset radius required for sufficiently offsetting the center of the orbit of average instability onset radius to generate a resonance instability to extract the beam of charged particle at the average instability onset radius.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for producing neutrons for applications such as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) are described. An apparatus can include a rotary fixture with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, and a plurality of neutron-producing segments. Each neutron-producing segment of the plurality of neutron-producing segments is removably coupled to the rotary fixture, and includes a substrate having a coolant channel circuit defined therein and a solid neutron source layer disposed thereon. The coolant channel circuits are in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet.

Abstract: A particle accelerator includes: a pair of magnetic poles disposed to face each other; a coil which surrounds each of the magnetic poles and generates a first magnetic flux density directing from the magnetic pole on one side to the magnetic pole on the other side; a foil stripper provided on a circling orbit of charged particles to strip off electrons from the charged particles; and a magnetic flux density adjustment unit which generates a second magnetic flux density directing in an opposite direction to a direction of the first magnetic flux density, in which the magnetic flux density adjustment unit makes an absolute value of magnetic flux density at a position of the foil stripper when viewed in a plan view smaller than an absolute value of the first magnetic flux density.

Abstract: A cryostat apparatus including a cooler configured to cool a cryogenic fluid. The cooler includes a cooler chamber disposed about a cooler axis. A magnet assembly is in thermodynamic communication with the cooler and is disposed about a magnet axis offset from the cooler axis. The magnet assembly includes a magnet housing and first and second annular magnet coils disposed about the magnet axis within the magnet housing. A viewing chamber is at least partially located between the first and second magnet coils, such that the magnet axis and a viewing axis perpendicular to the magnet axis both pass through the viewing chamber, with the viewing axis extending between the first and second magnet coils. The first annular magnet coil includes a first conical surface disposed about the magnetic axis and having minimum and maximum peripheries, the minimum periphery being disposed adjacent the viewing chamber.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and system for controlling the extraction of ion beam pulses produced by a synchrocyclotron. The synchrocyclotron comprises electrodes configured to be placed in a magnetic field. An alternating voltage is applied between the electrodes, and the frequency of the alternating voltage is modulated in a cyclic manner. In other embodiments, the method further comprises the steps of starting an acceleration cycle of the synchrocyclotron, generating a reference signal when the modulated frequency reaches a predefined value, communicating the time, at which the reference signal is generated, to the beam control elements, assessing one or more status parameters of the one or more beam control elements, and cancelling or proceeding with the extraction of the beam pulse depending on the results of the assessment.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for producing thermal neutrons at a tumor site in a patient has a plurality of fast neutron sources surrounding a moderator, a fast neutron reflecting media around the fast neutron sources, a gamma-ray and neutron shielding media surrounding the fast neutron reflecting media, and a patient chamber positioned inside the moderator. The fast neutron sources are positioned around the moderator to maximize and direct the neutron flux to said tumor site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulsed beam particle accelerator which can be used for particle radiation therapy. More particular, a device and method are provided to control the number of particles within a beam pulse. The particle accelerator comprises means for varying the number of particles within each beam pulse of said pulsed ion beam from a minimum value to a maximum value as function of the value of a beam control parameter. For each particle irradiation the required number of particles for each beam pulse is controlled by defining a value for said beam control parameter based on calibration data.

Abstract: A particle accelerator including an electrical field system and a magnetic field system that are configured to direct a particle beam of charged particles along a designated path within an acceleration chamber. The particle accelerator also includes a foil holder having a beam window and a positioning slot that at least partially surrounds the beam window. The positioning slot is dimensioned to hold an extraction foil such that the extraction foil extends across the beam window and into the path of the charged particles. The positioning slot is defined by interior reference surfaces that face the extraction foil and retain the extraction foil within the positioning slot. The reference surfaces permit the extraction foil to move relative to the reference surfaces when the particle beam is incident on the extraction foil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnet structure for a superconducting isochronous cyclotron for use in particle therapy. The cyclotron according to the invention is using two sets of three or more superconducting sector coil elements for generating an azimuthally varying magnetic field across the acceleration region. In this way, high-field (e.g. above 4 T) isochronous cyclotrons are provided which do not suffer the problem of a low flutter amplitude.

Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam, rapid patient positioning system including steps of: positioning a patient relative to a table in a substantially vertical orientation, optionally constraining motion of the patient with one or more constraints, transitioning the table through a semi-vertical orientation, such as with a robot arm, and orientating the patient and table in a substantially horizontal orientation, such as in a position for tumor therapy. Preferably, the robot arm is in common with an arm used to move the patient in traditional proton therapy. Optionally, the robot arm is used to re-orientate the patient into a substantially vertical orientation at the conclusion of a charged particle therapy session.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for charged particle tomographic imaging using a tomography system. The tomography imaging system is optionally simultaneously operational with a charged particle cancer therapy system using common elements, allows tomographic imaging with rotation of the patient, is operational on a patient in an upright, semi-upright, and/or horizontal position, is simultaneously operational with X-ray imaging, and/or allows use of adaptive charged particle cancer therapy. The common tomography and cancer therapy apparatus elements are operational in a multi-axis and/or multi-field raster beam mode.

Abstract: A cyclotron that accelerates an ion using a magnetic field includes a hollow yoke and an ion source that is provided in the yoke and generates an ion. The ion source includes a conductive cylindrical body and a filament disposed in the cylindrical body. A current is supplied from a power supply to the filament, and a direction of the current supplied to the filament is changed.

Abstract: A low-voltage, multi-beam radio frequency source that operates at a voltage less than or equal to approximately 20-40 kV and that generates at least 600 kW at a pulse width of approximately 5-30 ms. The RF source includes an electron gun having a cathode configured to generate a plurality of beamlets. An input cavity and output cavity are common to the plurality of beamlets. A plurality of gain cavities are provided between the input and output cavities, each having a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of beamlets. The cathode may include 10-20 beamlet cathodes formed in a ring, each being configured to generate a single beamlet and each having beamlet optics independent of each other. A beam collector having a plurality of openings corresponding to each of the beamlets may be provided within the output section, where the openings have no RF coupling to each other.

Abstract: A particle accelerator including an electrical field system and a magnetic field system that are configured to direct a particle beam of charged particles along a designated path within an acceleration chamber. The particle accelerator also includes a foil holder having a beam window and a positioning slot that at least partially surrounds the beam window. The positioning slot is dimensioned to hold an extraction foil such that the extraction foil extends across the beam window and into the path of the charged particles. The positioning slot is defined by interior reference surfaces that face the extraction foil and retain the extraction foil within the positioning slot. The reference surfaces permit the extraction foil to move relative to the reference surfaces when the particle beam is incident on the extraction foil.

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 synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures to provide a magnetic field to a cavity, a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity, where the particle source has a housing to hold the plasma column, and where the housing is interrupted at an acceleration region to expose the plasma column, and a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column at the acceleration region.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an X-ray source which uses a rectangular cavity resonator, which is excited with a microwave TE10p mode. The present invention also can be used as a source of cyclotron radiation, using the cylindrical cavity, but carrying out some structural changes thereof to achieve this purpose. This system allows significantly increasing the energy of the electron beam by compensating the diamagnetic force by an axially symmetric electrostatic field. The electrostatic field is generated longitudinally by ring-type electrodes placed inside the cavity, preferably in the node planes of the TE11p electric field. The electrodes should be made transparent to the microwave field, such as graphite.

Abstract: A synchrocyclotron comprises a resonant circuit that includes electrodes having a gap therebetween across the magnetic field. An oscillating voltage input, having a variable amplitude and frequency determined by a programmable digital waveform generator generates an oscillating electric field across the gap. The synchrocyclotron can include a variable capacitor in circuit with the electrodes to vary the resonant frequency. The synchrocyclotron can further include an injection electrode and an extraction electrode having voltages controlled by the programmable digital waveform generator. The synchrocyclotron can further include a beam monitor. The synchrocyclotron can detect resonant conditions in the resonant circuit by measuring the voltage and or current in the resonant circuit, driven by the input voltage, and adjust the capacitance of the variable capacitor or the frequency of the input voltage to maintain the resonant conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic cyclotron initialization, calibration, and beam adjustment. A process is provided that allows the automation of the initialization of a cyclotron after overnight or maintenance imposed shutdown. In one embodiment, five independent cyclotron system states are defined and the transition between one state to another may be automated, e.g., by the control system of the cyclotron. According to these embodiments, it is thereby possible to achieve beam operation after shutdown with minimal manual input. By applying an automatic procedure, all active devices of the cyclotron (e.g., RF system, extraction deflectors, ion source) are respectively ramped to predefined parameters.

Abstract: An accelerator includes an inflector through which a beam entering from an ion source passes and which introduces the beam to an acceleration orbit. The inflector includes a beam convergence unit that converges the beam passing through the inflector. A cyclotron, which accelerates a beam in a convoluted acceleration orbit, includes magnetic poles, D-electrodes, and an inflector. The magnetic poles generate a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the acceleration orbit. The D-electrodes generate a potential difference, which accelerates the beam, in the acceleration orbit. A beam, which enters in an incident direction perpendicular to the acceleration orbit, passes through the inflector, and the inflector bends the beam so as to introduce the beam to the acceleration orbit. The inflector includes a beam convergence unit that converges the beam passing through the inflector.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cyclotron. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include an upper and lower magnet pole, an upper and lower superconducting coil arranged around each of the magnetic poles, a ring-shaped magnetic return yoke, a beam chamber between the upper and lower magnetic poles having one or more electrodes configured to accelerate ions moving substantially in the median plane, and a cryostat. The ring-shaped magnetic return yoke and the coils may form a cold mass contained within the cryostat. Further, the cryostat may not contain the upper and lower poles.

Abstract: A synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures that define a resonant cavity, a source to provide particles to the resonant cavity, a voltage source to provide radio frequency (RF) voltage to the resonant cavity, a phase detector to detect a difference in phase between the RF voltage and a resonant frequency of the resonant cavity that changes over time, and a control circuit, responsive to the difference in phase, to control the voltage source so that a frequency of the RF voltage substantially matches the resonant frequency of the resonant cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic adjustment of cyclotron beam currents within a wide range for multiple treatment layers within the same patient and treatment session. In one embodiment, efficient adjustment is achieved by using beam current attenuation by an electrostatic vertical deflector installed in the inner center of the cyclotron. The beam current may, for example, be adjusted by the high voltage applied to the electrostatic vertical deflector. In front of each treatment the attenuation curve of the vertical deflector is recorded. Based on this attenuation curve, the vertical deflector voltage for the needed beam current of each irradiation layer is interpolated. With this procedure the beam current could be automatically adjusted in minimal time over a wide range while maintaining a high level of precision.

Abstract: A system includes a patient support and an outer gantry on which an accelerator is mounted to enable the accelerator to move through a range of positions around a patient on the patient support. The accelerator is configured to produce a proton or ion beam having an energy level sufficient to reach a target in the patient. An inner gantry includes an aperture for directing the proton or ion beam towards the target.

Abstract: An example synchrocyclotron includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a particle source; a coil to receive a variable electrical current and to generate a magnetic field that is at least 4 Tesla to cause the particles to move orbitally within the cavity; and an extraction channel to receive the accelerated particles and to output the received particles from the cavity. The particles that are output from the cavity have an energy that is variable based at least on the variable electrical current applied to the coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnet structure for a superconducting isochronous cyclotron for use in particle therapy. The cyclotron according to the invention is using two sets of three or more superconducting sector coil elements for generating an azimuthally varying magnetic field across the acceleration region. In this way, high-field (e.g. above 4 T) isochronous cyclotrons are provided which do not suffer the problem of a low flutter amplitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for control of a charged particle cancer therapy system. A treatment delivery control system is used to directly control multiple subsystems of the cancer therapy system without direct communication between selected subsystems, which enhances safety, simplifies quality assurance and quality control, and facilitates programming. For example, the treatment delivery control system directly controls one or more of: an imaging system, a positioning system, an injection system, a radio-frequency quadrupole system, a ring accelerator or synchrotron, an extraction system, a beam line, an irradiation nozzle, a gantry, a display system, a targeting system, and a verification system. Generally, the control system integrates subsystems and/or integrates output of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements with inputs of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements.

Abstract: An ion therapy system comprises a particle accelerator (1) mounted on a rotatable gantry (2). The particle accelerator includes a superconducting coil (17) which rotates about its axis as the particle accelerator rotates about the gantry axis in use to direct an output beam towards a target from different directions. The particle accelerator is rotatable through (180) degrees to move the beam through a corresponding arc. The particle accelerator includes cooling system arranged to cool the coil as the coil rotates. The superconducting coil (17) is mounted in a coil support (25). The coil is surrounded by a cryogen chamber (32) which is located radially outwardly from the coil (17) on the other side of the support (25). The cryogen chamber is in fluid communication with a cryogen recondensing unit (29) whereby vaporized cryogen may flow from the cryogen chamber (32) to the cryogen recondensing unit (29) to be recondensed in use before returning to the cryogen chamber.

Abstract: A system includes a patient support and an outer gantry on which an accelerator is mounted to enable the accelerator to move through a range of positions around a patient on the patient support. The accelerator is configured to produce a proton or ion beam having an energy level sufficient to reach a target in the patient. An inner gantry includes a robotic arm capable of directing an aperture for directing the proton or ion beam towards the target.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods for adjusting the position of a main coil assembly in a cyclotron with respect to a median plane (M) and/or to a central axis (Z) of the cyclotron.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circular particle accelerator capable of modulating the particle beam current exiting the circular particle accelerator. The circular particle accelerator includes: an ion source for generating the particle beam; Dee electrode and counter-Dee electrode separated from each other by gaps for accelerating the particle beam, the counter-Dee electrode being grounded; a generator capable of applying an alternating high voltage to the Dee electrode, so as it is possible to have an electric field between the gaps; means for measuring the current intensity of the particle beam exiting the circular particle accelerator. It also comprises a regulator capable of modulating the Dee electrodes voltage amplitude (VD) by comparing a given set point (I0) of the current intensity of the particle beam and the measured value of the current intensity (I?M) of the particle beam.

Abstract: A RF accelerator system includes an accelerator, a RF source coupled to the accelerator for providing RF power to the accelerator, a control for adjusting a frequency of the RF power provided by the RF source through a frequency range, and a sensor for sensing a response resulted from an operation of the accelerator based at least in part on the adjusted frequency of the RF power through the frequency range. A method of diagnosing a RF spectrum in an accelerator system includes providing RF power to an accelerator, adjusting a frequency of the RF power through a frequency range, and sensing a response resulted from an operation of the accelerator, the response being based at least in part on the adjusted frequency of the RF power through the frequency range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an RF system (1) able to generate a voltage for accelerating charged particles in a synchrocyclotron, the RF system (1) including a resonant cavity (2) comprising a conducting enclosure (5) within which are placed a conducting pillar (3) of which a first end is linked to an accelerating electrode (4) able to accelerate the charged particles, a rotary variable capacitor (10) coupled between a second end opposite from the first end of the pillar (3) and the conducting enclosure (5), the said capacitor (10) comprising fixed electrodes (11) and a rotor (13) comprising mobile electrodes (12), the fixed electrodes (11) and the mobile electrodes (12) forming a variable capacitance able to vary a resonant frequency of the resonant cavity (2) in a cyclic manner over time, an exterior layer of the rotor (13) having a conductivity of greater than 20,000,000 S/m at 300 K.

Abstract: A welding method of welding a cylindrical stiffening member to an outer circumference of a superconducting accelerator tube body uses a laser beam in a process of manufacturing a superconducting accelerator tube. The laser beam is configured such that a distribution profile of energy density on an irradiated face to which the laser beam is irradiated is a Gaussian distribution profile having a peak section, and the energy density of the peak section is 5.8×105 W/cm2 or more.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cyclotron. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include an upper and lower magnet pole, an upper and lower superconducting coil arranged around each of the magnetic poles, a ring-shaped magnetic return yoke, a beam chamber between the upper and lower magnetic poles having one or more electrodes configured to accelerate ions moving substantially in the median plane, and a cryostat. The ring-shaped magnetic return yoke and the coils may form a cold mass contained within the cryostat. Further, the cryostat may not contain the upper and lower poles.

Abstract: An apparatus to monitor a condition of a solid state charge device (SSCD) useful in electrostatic printing includes a power supply and a frequency detector. The power supply provides current to the SSCD, and includes a resonant controller. The frequency detector senses a frequency associated with the current, and since the frequency is representative of the condition of the SSCD, the frequency detector thereby monitors the condition of the SSCD. A method of monitoring the condition of the SSCD includes providing current to the SSCD using a power supply, and sensing a frequency associated with the current. The power supply includes a resonant controller, and the frequency is representative of the condition of the SSCD, and thus the method thereby monitors the condition of the SSCD. A corresponding computer-readable medium is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual-frequency resonant cavity (6) for cyclotron which includes a dee (10), a pillar (20), and a conducting enclosure (40) surrounding the pillar and the dee, an end of the pillar being connected to the base of the conducting enclosure and an opposite end of the pillar (20) supporting the dee (10). The conducting enclosure and the pillar form a transmission line comprising at least three portions (20a, 20b, 20c), each portion having a characteristic impedance (Zc1, Zc2, Zc3). The characteristic impedance Zc2 of the intermediate portion (20b) is substantially lower than the characteristic impedances Zc1 et Zc3 of the two other portions (20a, 20b), which makes it possible to have the cavity resonate according to two modes in order to produce two distinct frequencies, without having to make use of moving components such as for example sliding short-circuits or mobile plates.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating a proton beam, which includes a laser system providing a laser pulse, a target generating a proton beam by using the laser pulse, and a phase conversion plate disposed between the laser system as a light source and the target to convert the laser pulse into a circularly polarized laser pulse having a spiral shape.

Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes a magnet to generate a magnetic field, where the magnet includes first superconducting coils to pass current in a first direction to thereby generate the first magnetic field, and where the first magnetic field is at least 4 Tesla (T). The example particle accelerator also includes an active return system including second superconducting coils. Each of the second superconducting coils surrounds, and is concentric with, a corresponding first superconducting coil. The second superconducting coils are for passing current in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction to thereby generate a second magnetic field having a magnetic field of at least 2.5 T. The second magnetic field has a polarity that is opposite to a polarity of the first magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention relates to a facility (1) for microwave treatment of a load, including: at least one application device (30); at least one solid-state generator (4) in the field of microwaves, connected to at least one application device by a means for guiding (5) the electromagnetic wave; at least one frequency adjustment system (40) designed for adjusting the frequency of the wave produced by the corresponding generator (4); a measurement system (31) for the or each application device (30), designed for measuring the power reflected PR(i) by the application device (30); an automated control means (6) connected to each frequency adjustment system (40) and to each measurement system (31) in order to control the adjustment of the frequency f(i) of the electromagnetic wave according to the reflected power, in order to adjust the reflected power PR(i) and/or to adjust the transmitted power PT(i).

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: An electron cyclotron resonance ion generator includes a vacuum-tight chamber configured to contain a plasma, a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in the chamber, a waveguide configured to propagate a high-frequency wave inside the chamber, a first ionization stage located at one end of the chamber, the first stage including an ionization zone in which ions are generated, the magnetic field being approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis in the ionization zone, a second magnetic confinement stage for the ions generated in the ionization zone, the second stage using a first high-frequency wave being propagated in the chamber from the waveguide, the magnetic field being approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis between the ionization zone and the second confinement stage, such that the ions generated in the ionization zone migrate towards the second confinement stage and the first and second stages contain the same continuous plasma.

Abstract: An accelerator for accelerating two beams of charged particles and for producing a collision of the beams includes: an apparatus for producing an electrostatic potential field such that the two beams are acceleratable or deceleratable by the electrostatic field, a reaction zone for collision of the charged particles; first and second acceleration distances for the first and second beams, each acceleration distance directed towards the reaction zone, wherein the reaction zone is arranged geometrically with respect to the potential field and to the acceleration distances such that the particles of the beams are acceleratable towards the reaction zone along the first and second acceleration distances and, after interaction in the reaction zone and passage through the reaction zone, are deceleratable in the potential field, such that energy used by the potential field apparatus for accelerating the beams towards the reaction zone can be at least partially recovered by the deceleration.

Abstract: A DC high voltage source may include a capacitor stack having a first electrode that can be brought to a first potential, a second electrode arranged concentrically with the first electrode and which can be brought to a second potential different from the first potential, at least one intermediate electrode arranged concentrically between the first and second electrodes and which can be brought to an intermediate potential between the first and second potentials, a switching device for charging the capacitor stack, to which switching device the electrodes of the capacitor stack are connected and which is configured such that upon operation of the switching device the electrodes of the capacitor stack arranged concentrically with respect to each other can be brought to increasing potential levels, wherein the switching device comprises electron tubes, e.g., controllable electron tubes. A particle accelerator comprising such a DC high voltage source is also provided.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: There is provided a cyclotron including: a hollow yoke including first and second yoke portions facing each other and a side yoke portion connecting the first and second yoke portions to each other; first and second poles provided in the yoke so as to face each other; a coil disposed so as to surround the first and second poles; a D electrode provided between the first and second poles; a power source configured to supply electric power to the coil; a pole temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of at least one of the first and second poles; a yoke temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the side yoke portion; and a control unit configured to control supply of electric power to the coil by the power source on the basis of detection results of the pole temperature detector and the yoke temperature detector.

Abstract: An accelerator assembly includes a first chip and a second chip. An acceleration channel is formed into a surface of a first side of the first chip. The first side of the first chip is covalently bonded to a first side of the second chip such that the channel is a tubular void between the first and second chips. The channel has a tubular inside sidewall surface, substantially no portion of which is a metal surface. The channel has length-to-width ratio greater than five, and a channel width less than one micron. There are many substantially identical channels that extend in parallel between the first and second chips. In one specific example, the assembly is part of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.