An apparatus for guiding, in particular directing or accelerating, charged particles (50), comprising: a substrate (110) having a surface (115); an optically thinner layer (120) formed on the surface (115); an inhomogeneous channel (130) which is formed by two mutually opposite delimiting structures on a side of the layer (120) that is opposite the substrate (110); and a radiation device which is designed to generate at least one pulsed laser beam (140) and inject the at least one pulsed laser beam (140) into the channel (130) from a side that is opposite the optically thinner layer (120). The layer (120) for the laser beam (140) is optically thin, and the delimiting structures have a high optical density in comparison with the layer (120). The delimiting structures are designed to guide the particles (50) by means of the laser beam (140) in the channel (130) and alternatingly focus them along the channel (130) and in at least one direction perpendicular to the channel (130).

An apparatus for guiding, in particular directing or accelerating, charged particles (50), comprising: a substrate (110) having a surface (115); an optically thinner layer (120) formed on the surface (115); an inhomogeneous channel (130) which is formed by two mutually opposite delimiting structures on a side of the layer (120) that is opposite the substrate (110); and a radiation device which is designed to generate at least one pulsed laser beam (140) and inject the at least one pulsed laser beam (140) into the channel (130) from a side that is opposite the optically thinner layer (120). The layer (120) for the laser beam (140) is optically thin, and the delimiting structures have a high optical density in comparison with the layer (120). The delimiting structures are designed to guide the particles (50) by means of the laser beam (140) in the channel (130) and alternatingly focus them along the channel (130) and in at least one direction perpendicular to the channel (130).

Some embodiments include a system, comprising: a plurality of accelerator structures, each accelerator structure including an RF input and configured to accelerate a different particle beam; an RF source configured to generate RF power; and an RF network coupled between the RF source and each of the RF inputs of the accelerator structures and configured to split the RF power among the RF inputs of the accelerator structures.

Some embodiments include a system, comprising: a plurality of accelerator structures, each accelerator structure including an RF input and configured to accelerate a different particle beam; an RF source configured to generate RF power; and an RF network coupled between the RF source and each of the RF inputs of the accelerator structures and configured to split the RF power among the RF inputs of the accelerator structures.

A linear accelerator head for use in a medical radiation therapy system can include a housing, an electron generator configured to emit electrons along a beam path, and a microwave generation assembly. The linear accelerator head may include a waveguide that is configured to contain a standing or travelling microwave. The waveguide can include a plurality of cells that are disposed adjacent one another, wherein each of the plurality of cells may define an aperture configured to receive electrons therethrough. The linear accelerator head can further include a converter and a primary collimator.

A linear accelerator head for use in a medical radiation therapy system can include a housing, an electron generator configured to emit electrons along a beam path, and a microwave generation assembly. The linear accelerator head may include a waveguide that is configured to contain a standing or travelling microwave. The waveguide can include a plurality of cells that are disposed adjacent one another, wherein each of the plurality of cells may define an aperture configured to receive electrons therethrough. The linear accelerator head can further include a converter and a primary collimator.

Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, electron source design, beam control and shaping/intensity-modulation. The methods and systems described herein are particularly advantageous when used with a compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) accelerator and delivery system (and related processes) capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions with great speed, using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering is provided; or when used with a high-current electron accelerator system of energy range more conventionally used in photon radiation therapy to produce much faster delivery of intensity-modulated photon radiation therapy, that can in both cases deliver an entire dose or fraction of high-dose radiation therapy sufficiently fast to freeze physiologic motion, yet with an equal or better degree of dose conformity or sculpting compared to conventional photon therapy.

A high gradient linear accelerating structure can propagate high frequency waves at a negative harmonic to accelerate low-energy ions. The linear accelerating structure can provide a gradient of 50 MV/m for particles at a of between 0.3 and 0.4. The high gradient structure can be a part of a linear accelerator configured to provide an energy range from an ion source to 450 MeV/u for .sup.12C.sup.6+ and 250 MeV for protons. The linear accelerator can include one or more of the following sections: a radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator operating at the sub-harmonic of the S-band frequency, a high gradient structure for the energy range from 45 MeV/u to 450 MeV/u.

A system (12) is proposed for the acceleration of ions to treat Atrial Fibrillation (AF), arteriovenous malformations (AVMS) and focal epileptic lesions; this system (12) includes a pulsed ion source (1), a pre-accelerator (3) and one or more linear accelerators or linacs (5, 6, 7) operating at frequencies above 1 GHz with a repetition rate between 1 Hz and 500 Hz. The particle beam coming out of the complex (12) can vary (i) in intensity, (ii) in deposition depth and (iii) transversally with respect to the central beam direction. The possibility of adjusting in a few milliseconds and in three orthogonal directions, the location of each energy deposition in the body of the patient makes that system of accelerators (12) perfectly suited to irradiation of a beating heart.

A continuous wave ion linear accelerator PET radioisotope system is disclosed. The system includes a high brightness H.sup. ion source, a continuous wave RF quadrupole structure, and continuous wave RF interdigital structures to accelerate the ion beam to about 14 MeV. A high energy beam transport system is also described that includes a photo-detachment beam splitter and a magnet lattice for forming the proton beam into a beam having a Waterbag beam profile. The system also includes one or more targets upon which the proton beam is incident. The targets are either a high power metallic target oriented at about 10 degrees or a low thermal conductivity target oriented at about 35 degrees. The invention includes a method of producing PET isotopes by use of the systems described.