An accelerator includes: a plurality of ion sources 221, 222, and 233 that generate a plurality of different types of ions; an electromagnet 11 that generates a magnetic field; and a high frequency cavity 21 that generates a high frequency electric field. The center of an orbit of the ion is eccentric with acceleration, the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet 11 is a magnetic field distribution that decreases outward in a radial direction of the orbit, the high frequency cavity 21 accelerates the ion up to a predetermined energy by the high frequency electric field adjusted to an orbital frequency in response to a nuclide of the incident ion, and a frequency of the high frequency electric field changes following an energy of the ion. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an accelerator and a particle therapy system capable shortening an irradiation time with a small size.

An ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) ion source includes a plasma chamber having a circular cylindrical cross-section, magnets for generating a magnetic field for confinement of the plasma in the plasma chamber, and a microwave generator disposed outside the plasma chamber and generating at least two microwave signals. Several antennas protrude radially into the plasma chamber with a predetermined angular offset α. The antennas receive phase-shifted microwave signals from the microwave generator and radiate linearly polarized microwaves, which in turn produce a circularly polarized microwave inside the plasma chamber. A method for operating an ECR ion source is also described.

Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods relate to an electrode standoff isolator. An example electrode standoff isolator includes a plurality of adjacent insulative segments positioned between a proximal end and a distal end of the electrode standoff isolator. A geometry of the adjacent insulative is configured to guard a surface area of the electrode standoff isolator against deposition of a conductive layer of gaseous phase materials from a filament of an ion source.

Provided is a negative ion irradiation device in which an object is irradiated with a negative ion. The device includes a chamber that allows the negative ion to be generated therein, a gas supply unit that supplies a gas which is a raw material for the negative ion, a plasma generating portion that generates plasma, a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the object, a control unit that performs control of the gas supply unit, the plasma generating portion, and the voltage applying unit. The control unit controls the gas supply unit to supply the gas into the chamber, controls the plasma generating portion to generate the plasma in the chamber and to generate the negative ion by stopping the generation of the plasma, and controls the voltage applying unit to start voltage application during plasma generation and to continue voltage application after plasma generation stop.

An ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) ion source includes a plasma chamber having a circular cylindrical cross-section, magnets for generating a magnetic field for confinement of the plasma in the plasma chamber, and a microwave generator disposed outside the plasma chamber and generating at least two microwave signals. Several antennas protrude radially into the plasma chamber with a predetermined angular offset . The antennas receive phase-shifted microwave signals from the microwave generator and radiate linearly polarized microwaves, which in turn produce a circularly polarized microwave inside the plasma chamber. A method for operating an ECR ion source is also described.

An accelerator includes: a plurality of ion sources 221, 222, and 233 that generate a plurality of different types of ions; an electromagnet 11 that generates a magnetic field; and a high frequency cavity 21 that generates a high frequency electric field. The center of an orbit of the ion is eccentric with acceleration, the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet 11 is a magnetic field distribution that decreases outward in a radial direction of the orbit, the high frequency cavity 21 accelerates the ion up to a predetermined energy by the high frequency electric field adjusted to an orbital frequency in response to a nuclide of the incident ion, and a frequency of the high frequency electric field changes following an energy of the ion. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an accelerator and a particle therapy system capable shortening an irradiation time with a small size.

A modular beam amplifier for use in generating high power beams of particles in systems such as a spacecraft propulsion engine, comprising a distributed DC power generator including a plurality of DC generator cells connected in series to each other and a plurality of power taps at different points between the DC generator cells, an ion injector producing a particle beam and a plurality of amplifier modules in series with each other and coaxial with the particle beam. Each amplifier module in the plurality of amplifier modules includes a focus lens and a plurality of annular amplifier plates. Each amplifier plate pairs with and connects to a power tap. The plurality of DC generator cells is physically arranged in a serpentine arrangement of connected rows to minimize the physical length of the distributed DC power generator.

An apparatus may include an ion source, arranged to generate an ion beam at a first ion energy. The apparatus may further include a DC accelerator column, disposed downstream of the ion source, and arranged to accelerate the ion beam to a second ion energy, the second ion energy being greater than the first ion energy. The apparatus may include a linear accelerator, disposed downstream of the DC accelerator column, the linear accelerator arranged to accelerate the ion beam to a third ion energy, greater than the second ion energy.

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.

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.