Scalable continuous-wave ion linac PET radioisotope system

A continuous wave ion linear accelerator PET radioisotope system, configured in straight-linear fashion from a low-energy end to a high-energy end, the system comprising:

• a high brightness DC volume-cusp H− ion source that produces a multi-milliampere beam of H− ions of about 25 keV;
• a continuous wave radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linac having a beam ellipse output, wherein the RFQ linac focuses and accelerates the 25 keV H− ion beam into a multi-milliampere Gaussian profile H− ion beam of about 1 MeV;
• a low-energy beam transport which focuses the 25 keV H− ion beam for about 95% acceptance by the continuous wave RFQ linac;
• a series of one or more continuous wave radio frequency interdigital (RFI) linac tanks having beam ellipse inputs, wherein the RFI linacs accelerate the multi-milliampere Gaussian profile H− ion beam to about 14 MeV;
• a radio frequency coupler medium-energy beam transport that matches the output beam ellipse of the RFQ linac to the input beam ellipse of one of the continuous wave RFI linacs;
• one or more high energy beam transports, comprising:
• a beam pipe which transports the 14 MeV Gaussian profile H− ion beam to a laser-photodetachment beam splitter that manipulates the 14 MeV Gaussian profile H− ion beam such that a substantial portion of the 14 MeV Gaussian profile H− ion beam forms a Gaussian profile electrically neutral hydrogen beam;
• a dipole magnet which provides about a 10° transverse directional force to a remaining portion of the 14 MeV Gaussian profile H− ion beam;
• a hybrid boron-carbon foil in a foil holder which further manipulates a portion of the neutral hydrogen beam by removal of an electron to form a Gaussian profile proton beam;
• a water-cooled beam dump which accepts a remaining portion of the neutral hydrogen beam;
• a dipole magnet which provides about a 5° transverse directional force to the Gaussian profile proton beam;
• a non-linear focusing magnet lattice which further manipulates the Gaussian profile proton beam to form a uniform transverse (Waterbag) profile proton beam;
• and
• a high power collimator that shapes the Waterbag proton beam to an about 35 mm diameter Waterbag proton beam;
• one or more high power target stations supplying cooling to a target plate, the target plate including a substrate, the target plate located within a target capsule comprised of male and female halves, the 35 mm diameter Waterbag proton beam being incident on the substrate to irradiate the substrate to produce PET radioisotopes;
• and
• a target capsule transfer system arranged for loading and unloading of the target capsule, the system comprising:
• target transfer tubing forming transfer pathways between the one or more high power target stations and one or more radiochemical processing hot cells;
• a blower/suction assembly which provides directional motive forces to the target capsule;
• one or more divertor assemblies that configure the target capsule tubing among the one or more target stations and the one or more radiochemical processing hot cells;
• and
• a remote handling device configured to lock and unlock the target capsule male and female halves for insertion and removal of the target plate, with locking after insertion of the target plate for loading the target capsule into the target station, and unlocking and removal of the target plate for recovery of the produced PET radioisotopes after irradiation by the incident proton beam.