Simultaneous double sided irradiation

An apparatus for delivering a beam of charged particles along four separate beam paths comprising:

• a pulsed charged particle beam source for producing a series of beam pulses along a linear axis;
• first switching magnet responsive to a first and second current for developing a first and second magnetic field;
• second switching magnet responsive to a third and fourth current for developing a third and fourth magnetic field;
• power supply means for selectively applying to said first switching magnet a first current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined first path beam pulses effective to develop a constant first magnetic field throughout the period of each first path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire first path beam pulse from said linear axis to a first beam path, and a second current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined second path beam pulses effective to develop a constant second magnetic field throughout the period of each second path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire second path beam pulse from said linear axis to a second beam path, and for selectively applying to said second switching magnet a third current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined third path beam pulses effective to develop a constant third magnetic field throughout the period of each third path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire third path beam pulse from said linear axis to a third beam path, and a fourth current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined fourth path beam pulses effective to develop a constant fourth magnetic field throughout the period of each predetermined fourth path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire fourth path beam pulse from said linear axis to a fourth beam path.

An method for delivering a beam of charged particles along four separate beam paths comprising:

• producing from a pulsed charged particle beam source a series of beam pulses along a linear axis;
• directing said axis through the field of a first and second switching magnet displaced longitudinally along said axis;
• selectively applying to said first switching magnet a first current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined first path beam pulses effective to develop a constant first magnetic field throughout the period of each first path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire first path beam pulse from said linear axis to a first beam path, and a second current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined second path beam pulses effective to develop a constant second magnetic field throughout the period of each second path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire second path beam pulse from said linear axis to a second beam path;
• selectively applying to said second switching magnet a third current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined third path beam pulses effective to develop a constant third magnetic field throughout the period of each third path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire third path beam pulse from said linear axis to a third beam path, and a fourth current pulse synchronized to each of a plurality of predetermined fourth path beam pulses effective to develop a constant fourth magnetic field throughout the period of each predetermined fourth path beam pulse and thereby deflect each entire fourth path beam pulse from said linear axis to a fourth beam path.