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US 9,426,876 B2Granted
Magnetron powered linear accelerator for interleaved multi-energy operation
AssigneeAccuray Incorporated
InventorsPaul Dennis Treas, Roger Heering Miller
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to systems and methods for interleaving operation of a linear accelerator that use a magnetron as the source of electromagnetic waves for use in accelerating electrons to at least two different ranges of energies. The accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. In certain embodiments, the accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. The systems and methods are applicable to traveling wave linear accelerators.
Claims25
A method of generating a high dose rate of electrons of different energies using a traveling wave linear accelerator, the method comprising:
- coupling a first electromagnetic wave generated by a magnetron into the traveling wave linear accelerator;
- applying a first originating electron beam current to an electron gun to eject a first beam of electrons from the electron gun into the traveling wave linear accelerator, wherein the first beam of electrons has a first pulse length and is accelerated by the first electromagnetic wave to a first range of energies and output at a first captured electron beam current;
- coupling a second electromagnetic wave generated by the magnetron into the traveling wave linear accelerator;
- and
- applying a second originating electron beam current to the electron gun to eject a second beam of electrons from the electron gun into the traveling wave linear accelerator, wherein the second beam of electrons has a second pulse length that is different from the first pulse length and is accelerated by the second electromagnetic wave to a second range of energies and output at a second captured electron beam current,
- wherein a magnitude of the second captured electron beam current is different from a magnitude of the first captured electron beam current,
- wherein an energy output of the traveling wave linear accelerator is controlled by alternating between the first pulse length and the second pulse length and by further varying at least one of a) an originating electron beam current between the first originating electron beam current and the second originating electron beam current or b) a captured electron beam current between the first captured electron beam current and the second captured electron beam current,
- wherein a central value of the second range of energies is different from a central value of the first range of energies, and
- wherein the second range of energies and the first range of energies are interleaved.
6 more elements
A method of generating beams of x-rays at two different ranges of x-ray energies from a target positioned near a first end of a traveling wave linear accelerator, wherein an electron gun is positioned at a second end of the traveling wave linear accelerator opposite to the first end, the method comprising:
- coupling a first electromagnetic wave generated by the magnetron into the traveling wave linear accelerator;
- ejecting a first beam of electrons from an electron gun into the traveling wave linear accelerator, wherein the first beam of electrons has a first pulse length and is accelerated by the first electromagnetic wave to a first range of energies and output at a first captured electron beam current;
- contacting the target with the first beam of electrons at the first energy, thereby generating a first beam of x-rays having energies in a first range of x-ray energies from the target;
- coupling a second electromagnetic wave generated by the magnetron into the traveling wave linear accelerator;
- ejecting a second beam of electrons from the electron gun, wherein the second beam of electrons has a second pulse length that is different from the first pulse length and is accelerated by the second electromagnetic wave to a second range of energies and output at a second captured electron beam current;
- wherein a magnitude of the second captured electron beam current is different from a magnitude of the first captured electron beam current,
- wherein an energy output of the traveling wave linear accelerator is controlled by alternating between the first pulse length and the second pulse length and by further varying a captured electron beam current between the first captured electron beam current and the second captured electron beam current, and
- wherein a central value of the second energy is different from a central value of the first energy;
- and
- contacting the target with the second beam of electrons at the second energy, to generate a second beam of x-rays having energies in a second range of x-ray energies from the target.
7 more elements
A traveling wave linear accelerator comprising:
- an accelerator structure having an input and an output;
- a magnetron coupled to the accelerator structure to provide an electromagnetic wave to the accelerator structure;
- an electron gun interfaced with the input of the accelerator structure;
- and
- a controller interfaced with the electron gun,
- wherein the controller is to apply a first originating electron beam current and a first pulse length to the electron gun to cause the electron gun to eject a first beam of electrons into an input of the accelerator, wherein the first beam of electrons to be accelerated to a first range of energies and output at a first captured electron beam current in an operating configuration of the traveling wave linear accelerator,
- wherein the controller is to apply a second originating electron beam current and a second pulse length to the electron gun to cause the electron gun to eject a second beam of electrons into the input of the accelerator, wherein the second beam of electrons is to be accelerated to a second range of energies and output at a second captured electron beam current in the operating configuration of the travel wave linear accelerator,
- wherein the second pulse length is different from the first pulse length and a magnitude of the second captured electron beam current is different from a magnitude of the first captured electron beam current,
- wherein an energy output of the traveling wave linear accelerator is controlled by alternating between the first pulse length and the second pulse length and by further varying at least one of a) an originating electron beam current between the first originating electron beam current and the second originating electron beam current or b) a captured electron beam current between the first captured electron beam current and the second captured electron beam current, and
- wherein a central value of the second range of energies is different from a central value of the first range of energies.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.