Heavy-ion cancer therapy

The HIMAC Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba was completed in 1993, and clinical trials of particle radiotherapy for cancer were started using carbon beams accelerated by HIMAC in 1994. Since then, about 2200 patients have been treated in the carbon radiotherapy up to the end of February 2005. A heavy-ion beam generates a Bragg peak in a medium, and it provides biological effects of high RBE and low OER in the Bragg peak region. In heavy-ion radiotherapy, therefore, the beam delivers a high radiation dose to a target volume highly locally. These are excellent advantages for radiotherapy over the case of X-rays. The clinical trials have proved that carbon radiotherapy brings various good results.     

Pre-engineered abruptly autofocusing beams

We introduce a new family of (2+1)D light beams with pre-engineered abruptly autofocusing properties. These beams have a circularly symmetric input profile that develops outward of a dark disk and oscillates radially as a sublinear-chirp signal, creating a series of concentric intensity rings with gradually decreasing width. The light rays involved in this process form a caustic surface of revolution that bends toward the beam axis at an acceleration rate that is determined by the radial chirp itself. The collapse of the caustic on the axis leads to a large intensity buildup right before the intended focus. This ray-optics interpretation provides valuable insight into the dynamics of abruptly autofocusing waves.     

BRIF and CARIF progress

China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) is currently constructing Beijing rare ion beam facility (BRIF) and is proposing China advanced rare ion beam facility (CARIF). This paper is aiming at introducing the progress of BRIF project and the conceptual design CARIF. The ISOL type facility BRIF under construction is composed of a 100 MeV 300 μA proton cyclotron, an ISOL with mass resolution of 20000, and a super-conducting LINAC of 2 MeV/q, and will be commissioned in 2013. CARIF facility proposed is planned to use both ISOL and PF techniques. It is based on a China advanced research reactor CARR that was critical, with ISOL separation of fission fragment, post acceleration to 150 MeV/u, and fragmentation of neutron-rich fission fragment beam like ¹³²Sn. Such unique combination will allow CARIF to deliver beam intensity better than the best world facilities by more than one order of magnitude.     

利用轴向磁化的永磁环制造轴向梯度磁场

首先叙述了由单个轴向磁化环所产生的磁场,并就两个永磁环所产生的纵向磁场进行了分析.对于两个沿同一方向磁化的永磁体环,沿磁环中心线将会产生一个强度较为均匀的轴向磁场.如果两者的磁化方向相反,则在两磁铁间的区域将产生一个纵向的梯度磁场,其磁场强度介于-B₀到+B₀之间.设计制造了一个高梯度的轴向磁场,其磁场梯度为47.2Tm,测量结果与计算结果非常一致.文中还讨论了产生变梯度磁场的方法.由于永磁环所产生的磁场和螺线管的磁场较为相似,磁铁外部空间将有较大的漏场,最后还讨论了屏蔽漏场的问题.     

The Formation of Non-Keplerian Rings of Matter About Compact Stars

The formation of energetic rings of matter in a Kerr spacetime with an outward pointing acceleration field does not appear to have previously been noted as a relativistic effect. In this paper we show that such rings are a gravimagneto effect with no Newtonian analog, and that they do not occur in the static limit. The energy efficiency of these rings can (depending of the strength of the acceleration field) be much greater than that of Keplerian disks. Counter-intuitively these rings rotate in a direction opposite to that of compact star about which they form. The size and energy efficiency of the rings depend on the fundamental parameters of the spacetime as well as the strength the acceleration field.     

Beam dynamics and RF design of trapezoidal IH-RFQ with low energy spread

Beam dynamics and RF design have been performed of a new type trapezoidal IH-RFQ operating at 104 MHz for acceleration of ¹⁴C⁺ in the framework of RFQ based ¹⁴C AMS facility at Peking University. Low energy spread RFQ beam dynamics design was approached by the method of internal discrete bunching. ¹⁴C⁺ will be accelerated from 40 keV to 500 keV with the length of about 1.1 m. The designed transmission efficiency is better than 95% and the energy spread is as low as 0.6%. Combining the beam dynamics design, a trapezoidal IH-RFQ structure was proposed, which can be cooled more easily and has better mechanical performance than traditional RFQ. Electromagnetic field distribution was simulated by using CST Microwave Studio (MWS). The specific shunt impedance and the quality factor were optimized primarily.     

Longitudinal RF capture and acceleration simulation in CSNS RCS

China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) is a high power proton accelerator-based facility. Uncontrolled beam loss is a major concern in designing the CSNS to control the radioactivation level. For the Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) of the CSNS, the repetition frequency is too high for the longitudinal motion to be fully adiabatic. Significant beam loss happens during the RF capture and initial acceleration of the injection period. To reduce the longitudinal beam loss, beam chopping and momentum offset painting methods are used in the RCS injection. This paper presents detailed studies on the longitudinal motion in the RCS by using the ORBIT simulations, which include different beam chopping factors, momentum offsets and RF voltage optimization. With a trade-off between the longitudinal beam loss and transverse incoherent tune shift that will also result in beam losses, optimized longitudinal painting schemes are obtained.     

Beam Dynamics Simulation in the LINAC-100 Accelerator Driver for the DERICA Project

The results of uranium ion beam dynamics simulation in front-end and superconducting sections of the accelerator-driver LINAC-100 for the new rare isotope facility DERICA (JINR, Dubna) are presented. The optimum parameters are chosen for the buncher accelerator with radiofrequency quadrupole focusing (RFQ) for uranium ion beam acceleration from the ion source up to the energy of 570 keV/nucleon. LINAC-100 modular superconducting part layout for uranium beam acceleration from 3 to 100 MeV/nucleon is obtained. The energies for the stripper section installation are chosen.

     

Beam dynamics and RF design of trapezoidal IH-RFQ with low energy spread

Beam dynamics and RF design have been performed of a new type trapezoidal IH-RFQ operating at 104 MHz for acceleration of 14C+ in the framework of RFQ based 14C AMS facility at Peking University. Low energy spread RFQ beam dynamics design was approached by the method of internal discrete bunching. 14C+ will be accelerated from 40 keV to 500 keV with the length of about 1.1 m. The designed transmission efficiency is better than 95% and the energy spread is as low as 0.6%. Combining the beam dynamics design, a trapezoidal IH-RFQ structure was proposed, which can be cooled more easily and has better mechanical performance than traditional RFQ. Electromagnetic field distribution was simulated by using CST Microwave Studio (MWS). The specific shunt impedance and the quality factor were optimized primarily.     

利用激光离焦的方法优化超强激光驱动的质子加速

在中国科学院物理研究所"极光Ⅱ 号"飞秒激光装置上,对激光与薄膜靶相互作用产生的靶后质子束特性进行了实验研究.结果发现,在主脉冲前存在较强的飞秒预脉冲的情况下,通过适当地对激光束散焦,可以使质子束的转换效率提高3 个数量级,并同时改善质子束的准直性.分析表明,激光散焦的方法可以有效地抑制预脉冲的流体力学效应对质子加速的负面影响,从而提高质子的转换效率.此外,粒子模拟还发现,散焦量增大时可以产生更多的中低能超热电子,这也有利于建立高质量的质子加速电场. 关键词： 超短脉冲激光与等离子体相互作用 质子加速 转换效率     

Heavy-ion LINAC development for the US RIA project

The Nuclear Science Community in the Unites States has unanimously concluded that developments in both nuclear science and its supporting technologies make building a world-leading Rare-Isotope Accelerator (RIA) facility for production of radioactive beams the top priority. The RIA development effort involves several US Laboratories (ANL, JLAB, LBNL, MSU, ORNL). The RIA facility includes a CW 1.4 GeV driver LINAC and a 100 MV post-accelerator both based on superconducting (SC) cavities operating at frequencies from 48 MHz to 805 MHz. An initial acceleration in both LINACs is provided by room temperature RFQs. The driver LINAC is designed for acceleration of any ion species; from protons up to 900 MeV to uranium up to 400 MeV/u. The novel feature of the driver LINAC is an acceleration of multiple charge-state heavy-ion beams in order to achieve 400 kW beam power. Basic design concepts of the driver LINAC are given. Several new conceptual solutions in beam dynamics, room temperature and SC accelerating structures for heavy ion accelerator applications are discussed.     

Design of 57.5 MHz CW RFQ structure for the Rare Isotope Accelarator Facility

The Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) facility includes a driver LINAC for production of 400 kW CW heavy-ion beams. The initial acceleration of heavy ions delivered from an ECR ion source can be effectively performed by a 57.5 MHz 4 m long RFQ. The principal specifications of the RFQ are: (1) formation of extremely low longitudinal emittance: (2) stable operation over a wide range of voltage for acceleration of various ion species needed for RIA operation; (3) simultaneous acceleration of two-charge states of uranium ions. CW operation of an accelerating structure leads to a number of requirements for the resonators such as high shunt impedance, efficient water cooling of all parts of the resonant cavity, mechanical stability together with precise alignment, reliable rf contacts, a stable operating mode and fine tuning of the resonant frequency during operation. To satisfy these requirements a new resonant structure has been developed. This paper discusses beam dynamics and electrodynamics design of the RFQ cavity, as well as, some aspects of the mechanical design of this low-frequency CW RFQ.     

Modern compact accelerators of cyclotron type for medical applications

Ion beam therapy and hadron therapy are types of external beam radiotherapy. Recently, the vast majority of patients have been treated with protons and carbon ions. Typically, the types of accelerators used for therapy were cyclotrons and synchrocyclotrons. It is intuitively clear that a compact facility fits best to a hospital environment intended for particle therapy and medical diagnostics. Another criterion for selection of accelerators to be mentioned in this article is application of superconducting technology to the magnetic system design of the facility. Compact isochronous cyclotrons, which accelerate protons in the energy range 9–30 MeV, have been widely used for production of radionuclides. Energy of 230 MeV has become canonical for all proton therapy accelerators. Similar application of a carbon beam requires ion energy of 430 MeV/u. Due to application of superconducting coils the magnetic field in these machines can reach 4–5 T and even 9 T in some cases. Medical cyclotrons with an ironless or nearly ironless magnetic system that have a number of advantages over the classical accelerators are in the development stage. In this work an attempt is made to describe some conceptual and technical features of modern accelerators under consideration. The emphasis is placed on the magnetic and acceleration systems along with the beam extraction unit, which are very important from the point of view of the facility compactness and compliance with the strict medical requirements.     

Results of the Nuclotron-M project

The main goal of the Nuclotron-M project, approved in 2007, was formulated as follows: modernization of the main accelerator systems for reliable and safe operation of the Nuclotron as a part of the accelerator facility NICA (Nuclotron-based Ion Collider Facility) being constructed at JINR. Demonstration of heavy-ion beam acceleration (with atomic mass number higher than 100) as well as safe and stable operation of the main superconducting system operation at a magnetic field of up to 2 T had been defined as criteria of successful project fulfillment. Another very important issue is performance of stable, long-term beam runs and increase of the accelerated beam intensity. All the main goals of the Nuclotron-M project had been successfully achieved by the end of 2010. In this report we give an overview of the project realization chronology and present the main experimental results obtained at LHEP Nuclotron accelerator facility in the period from 2007 to early 2011.     

A particle-in-cell mode beam dynamics simulation of medium energy beam transport for the SSC-Linac

A new linear accelerator system, called the SSC-Linac injector, is being designed at HIRFL (the heavy ion research facility of Lanzhou). As part of the SSC-Linac, the medium energy beam transport (MEBT) consists of seven magnetic quadrupoles, a re-buncher and a diagnose box. The total length of this segment is about 1.75 m. The beam dynamics simulation in MEBT has been studied using the TRACK 3D particle-in-cell code, and the simulation result shows that the beam accelerated from the radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) matches well with the acceptance of the following drift tube linac (DTL) in both the transverse and longitudinal phase spaces, and that most of the particles can be captured by the final sector focusing cyclotron for further acceleration. The longitudinal emittance of the RFQ and the longitudinal acceptance of the DTL was calculated in detail, and a multi-particle beam dynamics simulation from the ion source to the end of the DTL was done to verify the original design.     

基于弯曲伸张结构的光纤光栅传感研究

以民用工程结构如桥梁、大坝、高层建筑的健康检测为背景, 采用光纤光栅传感器实现对结构性能的实时监测和诊断, 及时发现结构的损伤以评估结构的安全性. 提出了一种可用于光纤光栅传感的新型弯曲伸张弹性敏感结构, 可实现对压力、应变以及加速度的准确测量. 对该结构弯梁腹部处的应变进行了理论分析和实验验证, 结果表明弯梁腹部处各点的应变与该弯曲伸张结构在竖直方向上所受压力、应变以及加速度大小成线性关系. 其最大的优点是同样灵敏度下体积小, 在井下等横向尺寸受限、又要测量纵向加速度的情况下, 梁式传感结构很可能无法使用, 该新型弯曲伸张型弹性敏感结构可作为弹性元件用于光纤光栅压力、应变、称重以及加速度传感器的设计.     

Prospects for electron cooling of antiprotons at low energies

The motivation of using electron cooling in low-energy antiproton storage rings and the expected cooling performance are discussed. Results obtained recently, during the first operation of electron cooling in LEAR at CERN with a 50 MeV proton beam, are summarized, concerning in particular the equilibrium beam properties, the recombination between cooling electrons and cooled protons, and the deceleartion of acceleration of protons by friction in the electron beam. Conclusions are drawn for the formation of antihydrogen with the cooled antiproton beam, and for the deceleration of antiprotons to energies close to or below 1 MeV.     

Longitudinal RF capture and acceleration simulation in CSNS RCS

China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) is a high power proton accelerator-based facility. Uncontrolled beam loss is a major concern in designing the CSNS to control the radioactivation level. For the Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) of the CSNS, the repetition frequency is too high for the longitudinal motion to be fully adiabatic. Significant beam loss happens during the RF capture and initial acceleration of the injection period. To reduce the longitudinal beam loss, beam chopping and momentum offset painting methods are used in the RCS injection. This paper presents detailed studies on the longitudinal motion in the RCS by using the ORBIT simulations, which include different beam chopping factors, momentum offsets and RF voltage optimization. With a trade-off between the longitudinal beam loss and transverse incoherent tune shift that will also result in beam losses, optimized longitudinal painting schemes are obtained.     

Depth control of a silicon structure fabricated by 100q keV Ar ion beam lithography

Ion beam lithography of a silicon surface using an Ar ion beam with an ion energy in the order of hundreds of keV is demonstrated in this study. A specially designed ion irradiation facility was employed that enabled generation and irradiation with a highly accelerated and highly charged Ar ion beam. An ion-beam-induced amorphous layer on a silicon substrate can be selectively etched in hydrofluoric acid, whereas, a non-irradiated area is scarcely etched and, consequently, a concave structure can be fabricated on the irradiated area. To control the depth of the structure, parameters for dependence of the depth on ion irradiation were investigated. As a result, the depth of irradiated area can be controlled by the ion energy that is adjusted by the acceleration voltage and the ion charge. In addition, the etch resistance of the irradiated area increases with an increase in ion energy due to the crystalline layer formed on the surface. Simulation results reveal that the depth is strongly related to the defect distribution induced by ion irradiation. These results indicate the potential use of this method for novel three-dimensional lithography.