A device for measuring the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. The device includes a sample chamber for accepting a sample of air; at least one ionization source for ionizing VOCs in the sample; an ionic liquid trap containing an ionic liquid that captures the ionized VOCs; a circuit for generating a electric current through the device to run the ionization and capture of the ionized VOCs; and a chemical sensor for detecting and measuring concentrations of the VOCs in the sample of air. The device, which may be hand-held, portable, or designed to sit on a bench top, may be used on any animal, including humans.

A device for measuring the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. The device includes a sample chamber for accepting a sample of air; at least one ionization source for ionizing VOCs in the sample; an ionic liquid trap containing an ionic liquid that captures the ionized VOCs; a circuit for generating a electric current through the device to run the ionization and capture of the ionized VOCs; and a chemical sensor for detecting and measuring concentrations of the VOCs in the sample of air. The device, which may be hand-held, portable, or designed to sit on a bench top, may be used on any animal, including humans.

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating charged particles. The apparatus comprises a light source that emits a laser, a target layer that receives the laser to generate charged particles, and a focusing structure that is between the light source and the target source and focuses the laser. The focusing structure comprises solid layers and pore sections alternately and repeatedly disposed along a first direction parallel to a top surface of the target layer. Each of the pore sections comprises a porous layer.

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating charged particles. The apparatus comprises a light source that emits a laser, a target layer that receives the laser to generate charged particles, and a focusing structure that is between the light source and the target source and focuses the laser. The focusing structure comprises solid layers and pore sections alternately and repeatedly disposed along a first direction parallel to a top surface of the target layer. Each of the pore sections comprises a porous layer.

Systems for treating a patient using protons include a proton source configured to provide a proton beam having a plurality of proton energies and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to control relative movement between the proton beam and the patient in two dimensions, and to control the proton energy distribution to adjust the penetration depth of the protons in the third dimension while maintaining substantially fixed coordinates in the other two dimensions. Such treatment systems allow for shorter treatment times, higher patient throughput, more precise treatment of the desired areas, and less collateral damage to healthy tissue.

Systems for treating a patient using protons include a proton source configured to provide a proton beam having a plurality of proton energies and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to control relative movement between the proton beam and the patient in two dimensions, and to control the proton energy distribution to adjust the penetration depth of the protons in the third dimension while maintaining substantially fixed coordinates in the other two dimensions. Such treatment systems allow for shorter treatment times, higher patient throughput, more precise treatment of the desired areas, and less collateral damage to healthy tissue.

A system and method for using a high-performance photoionization subsystem are disclosed. Embodiments of the present disclosure employ narrow bandwidth laser radiation to selectively excite ionizing resonant states of gaseous atoms in electric fields. This subsystem and method may be incorporated in an ion source producing ions by photoionizing gaseous atoms; the resultant ions may be employed to efficiently produce an ion beam of high brightness.

A system and method for using a high-performance photoionization subsystem are disclosed. Embodiments of the present disclosure employ narrow bandwidth laser radiation to selectively excite ionizing resonant states of gaseous atoms in electric fields. This subsystem and method may be incorporated in an ion source producing ions by photoionizing gaseous atoms; the resultant ions may be employed to efficiently produce an ion beam of high brightness.

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating charged particles. The apparatus comprises a light source that emits a laser, a target layer that receives the laser to generate charged particles, and a focusing structure that is between the light source and the target source and focuses the laser. The focusing structure comprises solid layers and pore sections alternately and repeatedly disposed along a first direction parallel to a top surface of the target layer. Each of the pore sections comprises a porous layer.

A propulsion system for spacecraft is based on an electric engine that expels propellant to achieve thrust. The propellant is first ionized to generate a plasma. Plasma particles are selectively accelerated via a pulsed laser that accelerates predominantly the electrons in the plasma. The electrons are expelled first, forming a space charge that acts as a virtual cathode to accelerate the positive ions. Interactions between the laser beam and plasma electrons are predominantly through the ponderomotive force.