Compact particle accelerator
AssigneeNational Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
InventorJuan M. Elizondo-Decanini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact particle accelerator having an input portion configured to receive power to produce particles for acceleration, where the input portion includes a switch, is provided. In a general embodiment, a vacuum tube receives particles produced from the input portion at a first end, and a plurality of wafer stacks are positioned serially along the vacuum tube. Each of the plurality of wafer stacks include a dielectric and metal-oxide pair, wherein each of the plurality of wafer stacks further accelerate the particles in the vacuum tube. A beam shaper coupled to a second end of the vacuum tube shapes the particles accelerated by the plurality of wafer stacks into a beam and an output portion outputs the beam.
Claims20
A compact particle accelerator comprising:
- an input portion configured to receive power to produce particles for acceleration, the input portion comprising a first switch;
- a vacuum tube configured to receive particles produced from the input portion at a first end;
- a plurality of wafers operatively coupled to the input portion and positioned serially along the vacuum tube, each of the plurality of wafers comprising a dielectric and a varistor, wherein each of the plurality of wafers are configured to further accelerate the particles in the vacuum tube;
- a beam shaper, operatively coupled to a second end of the vacuum tube, wherein the beam shaper is configured to shape the particles accelerated by the plurality of wafers into a beam;
- and
- an output portion for outputting the beam.
A compact particle accelerator structure comprising:
- a plurality of wafers integrated serially along a vacuum tube configured to carry accelerated particles, each of the plurality of wafers comprising a dielectric and a varistor, wherein each of the plurality of wafers are configured to further accelerate the particles in the vacuum tube;
- a beam shaper, operatively coupled to an end of the vacuum tube, wherein the beam shaper is configured to shape the particles accelerated by the plurality of wafers into a beam;
- and
- an output portion for outputting the beam.
A method of operating a compact particle accelerator, the method comprising:
- receiving power at an input portion of the accelerator;
- applying the power to charge a plurality of wafers operatively coupled to the input portion and positioned serially along a cavity, each of the plurality of wafers comprising a dielectric and a varistor;
- and
- activating a first switch equipped with the input portion to accelerate particles through the cavity via the plurality of charged wafers;
- outputting the accelerated particles through an output portion of the compact particle accelerator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.