Waveguide for a linear accelerator and method of operating a linear accelerator

A linear accelerator comprising:

• a waveguide including:
• multiple cells arranged to receive a beam of charged particles therethrough along a particle path, the waveguide being configured to receive an electromagnetic field from a source of electromagnetic radiation, wherein each cell of the multiple cells is an individually switchable cell, and wherein each individually switchable cell includes a respective switch configured to adjust a supply of electromagnetic radiation to the individually switchable cell, and
• a first supply channel and a second supply channel arranged substantially parallel to the particle path, wherein each of the individually switchable cells are arranged between the first supply channel and second supply channel, and wherein the first supply channel and the second supply channel are each configured to supply the electromagnetic radiation to each of the individually switchable cells.

A method of controlling a waveguide, the method comprising:

• supplying electromagnetic radiation to a first number of cells and to a third number of cells, while restricting the supply of electromagnetic radiation to a second number of cells, wherein each of the second number of cells are individually switchable cells placed between the first number of cells and the third number of cells along a particle path, wherein a first supply channel and a second supply channel are each configured to supply the electromagnetic radiation to each of the individually switchable cells, wherein the first supply channel and the second supply channel are arranged substantially parallel to the particle path, and wherein each of the individually switchable cells are arranged between the first supply channel and the second supply channel.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• supply electromagnetic radiation to a first number of cells of a waveguide and to a third number of cells of the waveguide, while restricting the supply of electromagnetic radiation to a second number of cells of the waveguide, wherein each of the second number of cells are individually switchable cells placed between the first number and the third number of cells along a particle path, wherein a first and a second supply channel are each configured to supply the electromagnetic radiation to each of the individually switchable cells, wherein the first supply channel and the second supply channel are arranged substantially parallel to the particle path, and wherein each of the individually switchable cells are arranged between the first supply channel and the second supply channel.