Systems for Controlling a Beam of Charged Particles

A system for directing a beam of charged particles (“beam”) onto a target, comprising:

• a first assembly of quadrupole magnets positioned in a path of the beam exiting from an accelerator, wherein the first assembly of quadrupole magnets are oriented and energized to produce magnetic fields configured to cause the beam to expand preferentially in a first direction and contract in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first and second directions are perpendicular to the direction of travel of the beam;
• a first octupole magnet positioned after the first assembly of quadrupole magnets along the path of the beam, wherein the first octupole magnet is configured to produce magnetic fields that redirect charged particles towards a center portion of the beam;
• a second assembly of quadrupole magnets position after the first octupole magnet along the path of the beam, wherein the second assembly of quadrupole magnets are oriented and energized to produce magnetic fields configured to cause the beam to expand preferentially in the second direction and contract in the first direction;
• a second octupole magnet positioned after the second assembly of quadrupole magnets along the path of the beam, wherein the second octupole magnet is configured to produce magnetic fields that redirect particles towards the center portion of the beam;
• and
• a beam expansion portion of the system configured to allow the beam to expand after exiting the second octupole magnet before striking the target.

A method performed by a computing system for controlling a charged particle beam within a charged particle beam management and control system, the method comprising:

• controlling by the computing system one or more power units that power various magnets within the charged particle beam management and control system;
• receiving in the computing system beam quality information from a beam sensor at or near a target regarding at least one of beam size, shape, or position;
• determining by the computing system adjustments to magnetic field strengths or power applied to one or more system magnets to maintain beam quality based on the received beam quality information;
• and
• controlling by the computing system the one or more power units based on determined adjustments to magnetic field strengths or power applied to one or more system magnets.