Disclosed is a method of determining information regarding the location of energy deposition of an ion beam, in particular a proton beam, in an absorptive medium, in particular in the tissue of a patient undergoing radiation therapy, comprising the following steps: generating an intensity modulated ion beam, wherein the intensity modulation comprises one or more modulation frequency components, detecting an acoustic signal attributable to the time dependent energy deposition in said absorptive medium by said intensity modulated ion beam using at least one detection apparatus, said detection apparatus being preferably configured for extracting at least one modulation frequency component of the acoustic signal corresponding to a respective one of the one or more modulation frequency components of said intensity modulation, or a harmonic thereof, and deriving information regarding the location of the energy deposition based, at least in part, on a time lag between the timing of the intensity modulation of said ion beam and said acoustic signal.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to laser plasma accelerators. In one aspect a block of material defines a gas inlet, a chamber in fluid communication with the gas inlet, a throat in fluid communication with the chamber, a channel in fluid communication with the throat, and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the channel. The throat is configured to generate a supersonic flow of a gas when the gas flows through the throat. The channel includes a ramp that is positioned proximate the gas outlet, with the ramp being inclined at an angle with respect to a direction of a flow of the gas proximate a surface of the channel prior to the ramp at the gas outlet.

In the present invention, a ferroelectric body is irradiated with ultraviolet light, and the ferroelectric body is caused to stably generate electric potential. A method for radiating charged particles, in which the UV-light-receiving surface of the ferroelectric body that receives UV light and is caused to generate a potential difference is irradiated with UV light having a wavelength not transmitted by the ferroelectric body, and charged particles are radiated from the charged-particle-radiation surface of the ferroelectric body, wherein the UV-light-receiving surface is irradiated with pulses of UV light at a peak power of 1 MW or greater. The pulse width of the UV light is measured in picoseconds (less than 110.sup.9 seconds), and the UV pulses can be transmitted by fiber.

Systems for generating a proton beam include an electromagnetic radiation beam (e.g., a laser) that is directed onto an ion-generating target by optics to form the proton beam. A detector is configured to measure a laser-target interaction property, which a processor uses to produce a feedback signal that can be used to alter the proton beam by adjusting the source of the electromagnetic radiation beam, the optics, or a relative position or orientation of the electromagnetic radiation beam to the ion-generating target. By adjusting the laser-target interaction, the feedback can be used to control properties of the proton beam, such as the proton beam energy or flux. Such systems have certain advantages, including reducing the size, complexity, and cost of machines used to generate proton beams, while also improving their speed, precision, and configurability.

Provided are a treatment apparatus using proton and ultrasound and a method for treating cancer using the same. The treatment apparatus includes a proton generator configured to emit a proton beam to a tumor of a human body, an ultrasound generator configured to emit an ultrasonic beam to the tumor in a direction crossing an emission path of the proton beam, and a sensor configured to measure an acoustic signal generated during the emission of the proton beam.

A radiation therapy system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system combined with an irradiation system, which can include one or more linear accelerators (linacs) that can emit respective radiation beams suitable for radiation therapy. The MRI system includes a split magnet system, comprising first and second main magnets separated by gap. A gantry is positioned in the gap between the main MRI magnets and supports the linac(s) of the irradiation system. The gantry is rotatable independently of the MM system and can angularly reposition the linac(s). Shielding can also be provided in the form of magnetic and/or RF shielding. Magnetic shielding can be provided for shielding the linac(s) from the magnetic field generated by the MM magnets. RF shielding can be provided for shielding the MRI system from RF radiation from the linac.

A high-energy radiation treatment system can comprise a laser-driven accelerator system, a patient monitoring system, and a control system. The laser-driven accelerator system, such as a laser-driven plasma accelerator or a laser-driven dielectric microstructure accelerator, can be constructed to irradiate a patient disposed on a patient support. The patient monitoring system can be configured to detect and track a location or movement of a treatment volume within the patient. The control system can be configured to control the laser-driven accelerator system responsively to the location or movement of the treatment volume. The system can also include a beam control system, which generates a magnetic field that can affect the radiation beam and/or secondary electrons produced by the irradiation beam. In some embodiments, the beam control system and the patient monitoring system can comprise a magnetic resonance imaging system.

According to an embodiment, a particle beam treatment system has: a CT device that is a three-dimensional image acquisition part installed in a treatment room for acquisition of a three-dimensional internal image on a day of treatment; a dose distribution display part that displays a dose distribution in the three-dimensional image acquired on the day of treatment and a dose distribution in treatment plan data designed in advance; a treatment management device that is a selection part to select whether or not to change the treatment plan data based on the dose distribution in the three-dimensional image acquired on the day of treatment and the dose distribution in treatment plan data designed in advance; and an irradiation part that irradiates an affected part with a particle beam according to the treatment plan data based on selection made by the treatment management device.

Systems for generating a proton beam include an electromagnetic radiation beam (e.g., a laser) that is directed onto an ion-generating target by optics to form the proton beam. The ion-generating target includes a plurality of patterned features and/or a knife edge, and may comprise, for example, ice, silicon, carbon, plastic, or steel. At least one processor is configured to cause the electromagnetic radiation beam to strike the knife edge or individual ones of the plurality of patterned features. The at least one processor may also be configured to cause the electromagnetic radiation beam to scan a surface of the ion-generating target either continuously or discontinuously, for example by controlling a motor and/or adaptive mirror. Further, the at least one processor may be configured to cause the sequential scanning of the electromagnetic radiation beam over contiguous ones of the plurality of patterned features.

Systems for generating a proton beam include an electromagnetic radiation beam (e.g., a laser) that is directed onto an ion-generating target by optics to form the proton beam. A detector is configured to measure a laser-target interaction property, which a processor uses to produce a feedback signal that can be used to alter the proton beam by adjusting the source of the electromagnetic radiation beam, the optics, or a relative position or orientation of the electromagnetic radiation beam to the ion-generating target. By adjusting the laser-target interaction, the feedback can be used to control properties of the proton beam, such as the proton beam energy or flux. Such systems have certain advantages, including reducing the size, complexity, and cost of machines used to generate proton beams, while also improving their speed, precision, and configurability.